Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:

Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.

Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.

Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Scan the attachments for viruses if possible.

Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.

Always compare the link in the e-mail with the link to which you are directed and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.

Log directly onto the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information.

Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine.

If you are asked to act quickly, or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.

Verify any requests for personal information from any business or financial institution by contacting them using the main contact information.

Remember if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

To receive the latest information about cyber scams, sign up for e-mail alerts on this website. If you have received a scam e-mail, please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Preventing Medical ID Theft: Are You At Risk ?

Preventing medical ID theft has become a hot topic as Americans increasingly hear about the safety of their private medical records as more medical breeches continue to be discovered. Medical ID theft happens when a person uses someone’s identity to obtain medical services or steal money by falsifying claims for medical services. Identity thieves use a person’s Social Security number, insurance information, or other forms of identification to commit the medical ID theft.

Medical ID theft can have a devastating effect on victims, causing collections issues, credit problems, and even bankruptcy. But that’s not all. The type of medical treatment obtained by the identity thief can also prevent the victim from getting medical insurance or medical services themselves because, as far as the insurance company is concerned, the victim now has a “pre-existing” condition.

According to the FTC, medical ID theft accounts for three percent of all ID theft cases, or approximately 250,000 cases per year. Unfortunately, these medical ID theft statistics are expected to grow, especially with the shift to electronic medical records.

Preventing Medical ID Theft: The Unemployed and Uninsured
Due to their difficult circumstances, some groups are at a higher risk for becoming identity thieves. The unemployed and uninsured may use another person’s identity because of a belief that it’s the only way they can receive quality medical care. Since they’re unemployed, they don’t have access to an employer’s healthcare benefits, and they can’t afford to buy medical insurance because they don’t have a job. It’s a vicious cycle, and it can make good people do bad things.

Preventing Medical ID Theft: Illegal Immigration
Illegal immigration also poses a serious threat as medical ID theft continues to rise. When an illegal immigrant steals private information such as an individual’s Social Security number, he or she can obtain identification and numerous services reserved for legal residents. If precautions aren’t taken to prevent medical ID theft, an illegal immigrant can get a passport, driver’s license, bank account, credit card, loan, mortgage, insurance, medical treatment, and many other services.

Preventing Medical ID Theft in Five Steps
Begin preventing medical ID theft by following these five easy steps:
1. Have your Social Security number removed from your insurance records. If your Social Security number is currently on your insurance card, don’t carry your card with you. Keep it in a safe place and only carry a photocopy with all but the last four digits of your Social Security number blacked out.
2. Obtain copies of your credit reports, insurance claims, and medical records. Lock them in a safe or safety deposit box, or place them on a CD or flash drive.
3. Next, regularly review your credit reports, insurance claims, and medical records for suspicious entries, such as a medical treatment that was never performed on you.
4. Immediately address disputes on your explanation of benefits, bills for medical services you never received, or any other charges that could be sent to collections and damage your credit. These need to be investigated and removed from your records.
5. Don’t leave a paper trail. Destroying sensitive information you no longer need is another critical step in preventing medical ID theft, so shred claims that are more than seven years old. Also, ask if your provider’s office performs background checks employees to prevent medical ID theft rings and stolen medical information.

Preventing medical ID theft takes vigilance. Medical ID thieves are doing everything to stay one step ahead of you and the authorities, so use medical ID theft prevention strategies to protect your private information.

Want to learn more about preventing medical ID theft? Contact The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or via email at info@theidentityadvocate.com.
Visit us online at www.theidentityadvocate.com.

Data Breeches are costing millions each year. The HITECH Act has not changed data protection as first thought. Dr. Larry Ponemon from the Ponemon Institute (which conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy) has submitted a great blog on the statistics which is available at : http://www.ponemon.org/blog/post/poor-privacy-practice-is-ailing-healthcare-industry

It can happen to you. Worse it can happen to your children. Computer hackers. Taking control of you computer. Watching every move. The hacker used social networking sites to spread a virus and infect computers with malicious code, thus infect and take over more than 100 computers. This is more than just identity theft, it was for extortion and control. Read the following FBI press release and verify you have not had communications with the screen names or email addresses listed: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2010/november/web-of-victims/web-of-victims

See Fox News clip on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz__DUISB6E&feature=player_embedded

There is a new search engine out there called ‘not your grandmothers phone book’….www.Spokeo.com. It will find pictures your friends and associates in your email lists, they may have posted on their sites, and their social networks. It is a reverse phone directory but with so much more. More of your privacy at risk!

Now that April 1 is here the Census forms are due. Remember, a few of the following guidelines:
The census people are NOT coming to your home until May 1 to July 1. Anyone knocking your door now is a potential scam artist. They will arrive if you have NOT filled out your census form and returned it; or have not filled it out correctly.
There are only 10 questions to answer.
They are not to ask for Social Security Numbers, or bank information.
Do not invite them into your home.
They will have a badge, and carry a black bag with US Census Bureau on it.
Check the web site for further details: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php.
If you have NOT received your census form by April 12, call one of the toll free assistance lines:
* ENGLISH – 1-866-872-6868
* Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
* Korean: 1-866-955-2010
* Russian: 1-866-965-2010
* Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
* Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
* TDD (Telephone Display Device for the hearing impaired):
1-866-783-2010
* Puerto Rico (in English): 1-866-939-2010
* Puerto Rico (in Spanish): 1-866-929-2010

Census Bureau Call Center

General Telephone Lines: 1-800-923-8282

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up one central website, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. It is not necessary to contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are only providing free annual credit report through
www.Annualcreditreport.com;
or phone 877-322-8228;
or Complete the Annual Credit Report form and mail to:
Annual Credit Report
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Social Networking sites remain a true source of identity theft. What is a friend? Who is a friend? Someone you trust. Be careful who you accept as a ‘friend’ on any social networking site. Check out this article on PC World: http://www.pcworld.com/article/184522/facebook_still_a_hotbed_of_identity_theft_study_claims.html
and think about your next move….

The advent of Electronic Health Records may mean the rise of Medical Identity Theft and the fears attached such as credit misinformation; errors in health records including allergies, blood types; loss of lifetime coverage or even becoming uninsurable. Read the informative article at ihealthbeat and take note of how to reduce your risk.

http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2009/11/30/growth-of-ehrs-could-lead-to-rise-in-medical-identity-theft.aspx