July 28, 2009 by Terry.

~ contributed by By Stacy Whelchel

Have you ever been to a carnival where a worker promised you a prize if you let the person guess your age or weight? It’s a guessing game that gives them the advantage because even if you win, the prize costs less than what you paid to play.

Similarly, researchers have discovered that thieves can easily guess individual Social Security Numbers, according to a Washington Post story. Even more unnerving is the fact that the criminals can, and have used, public information to uncover the vital digits. Unlike the carnival, this game is illegal, and the payoff for the thief is much more substantial.

Do your part to stop identity thieves from using your SSN and damaging your credit report.  Don’t routinely carry your identification card or other documents that display your number in a purse or wallet.  Don’t provide the number on any forms, unless positively necessary.  And, DO make sure you have an identity theft plan in place…just in case the guessing game doesn’t end in your favor.

What is cheaper? - pre-paid or post paid in these situations:

• health care
• auto repair
• home repair

Try having an accident with your car, then asking for car insurance - doesn’t typically work that way.

As 70%+ of claimed IDentity Theft victims end up hiring or wishing they had legal counsel, a whole industry starting to catch is the Legal arena.  You would want to find a service that is membership based where they do most of or all the effort on your behalf - not insurance based, where typically you take the actions and the policy helps them decide what you will be reimbursed on.  In the case of IDentity Theft most programs out there will leave you doing the work, even if they guide you, but it is being done during the day when the agencies you need to contact are open.

With the likes of LifeLock being sued by companies like Experian and being shut down by federal judges in states like California, I recommend you find a service that will monitor and restore your good name, provide many legal services covering you across America [because IDentity Theft isn’t limited to your trash can].

More importantly you want a service with a proven track record, and is governed by each state’s Insurance, Regulatory, & Bar Association

~ Terry Kohler
Certified IDentity Theft Risk Management Specialist
Talk Solutions Today

Veteran-Owned Small Business

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July 28, 2009 by Terry.

Imagine if this was Financial IDentity Theft and they shut your accounts down till you resolved it.  Fraud - Financial IDentity Theft - Legal - it can all affect you.  According to a Fox News article, a New Hampshire man went out to purchase a pack of cigarettes at a gas station and ended up with a $23 quadrillion credit card bill. In a strikingly similar incident, a teenager was charged the same amount after making purchases at a national chain pharmacy. That’s not all. According to the article, two more instances of a $23 quadrillion charge have shown up on credit card statements for packs of cigarettes in Tennessee and Texas. The bank refers to the card issuer, the card issuer refers to the bank.  Sounds like businesses wants to put the burden on someone else.  Doesn’t it sound confusing.

Would you be concerned? NO-worries.  Someone has your back.  We recommend the services of a business who not only offers continuous monitoring in many areas [not just your credit bureaus], the world’s leading risk consulting company, and pre-paid legal plan to go with it.  Why?  That way you may still have access to help even if your financial accounts get shut off to you.  Learn more here

In the technical age that we live in, mistakes happen. How much peace of mind does the suite of services at that web site provide in light of such a mistake?  $23 Quadrillion worth?  I would venture to say closer than any other.

Terry Kohler
Certified IDentity Theft Risk Management Specialist

Posted in IDT - Financial | Print | No Comments »

July 17, 2009 by Terry.

Identity theft victims will be able to seek compensation for the time and effort it takes to clean up damaged credit history under legislation approved Wednesday (July 15th) by the Michigan State House Judiciary Committee.

The bipartisan package of identity theft protection bills also updates Michigan law by better defining what constitutes identity theft and increasing penalties.  House Bill 4737, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Lori, makes victims of identity theft eligible for restitution from the Michigan Crime Victim Compensation Fund.  This is the first bill sponsored by Lori to be approved in committee.

In reporting the committee action on his legislation, the Constantine Republican said, “Because of the amount of business conducted online, identity theft is becoming an increasingly common crime and harder to prevent.  This legislation will give prosecutors the tools they need to go after these criminals and provide residents greater protection against identity theft.”

Lori noted that victims of identity theft must often spend years trying to fully restore their credit history and clear their name.   [he used the word must ~ I disagree, there is a real solution]

Lori said, “Victims of identity theft must often spend years cleaning up the mess – a frustrating, expensive and time-consuming hassle.  These bills give victims the opportunity to seek restitution for their effort.” This is why you need the better answer before you become a victim [approx 27,000 per day file reports], as found at Talk Solutions Today

In addition to increasing penalties and helping victims recover, the legislation also reduces the risk of identity theft by establishing procedures for companies to properly destroy personal data.  That is the key ~ because you “can’t Prevent” it, or protect yourself.  The Peace of Mind you can have is that you can Reduce Your Risks and Limit Your Liabilities.

The bills now head to the full House for consideration.

Posted in IDT - Legislation | Print | No Comments »

July 15, 2009 by Terry.

In the marketplace for ID Theft Protection, three companies are taking the lead.  Invisus Direct, Wells Fargo, and Pre-Paid Legal & Kroll, Inc.  All three companies show to offer an identity theft service/product, but significant differences exist.

Invisus Direct primarily offers protection against online ID theft, through securing your computer with software which protects you from such predators, and insures you against ID Theft even if it happens in the offline world. If you already have strong PC protection from another software vendor, like McAfee or Norton, or you own a Mac, you may not need the protection that Invisus offers for around $14. 99 per month, per computer.

Wells Fargo offers ID Theft protection, with $10,000 in ID Theft insurance to cover the costs [reimbursed?] of restoring [who is doing the work of getting your good name back?] your identity if it is stolen [read the Fine Print].  Like Invisus, the usual suspects are monitored, such as your credit reports etc.

Pre-Paid Legal & Kroll, Inc. offers an IDentity Theft solution [not protection - because no-one can stop it but only reduce the risks] that monitors your credit report, the use of your Drivers’ License #, your medical records, and your Social Security #. The subscription costs begin at $12. 95 per month for member and spouse or significant other, but here is where Pre-Paid Legal & Kroll, Inc. , differs from the other two programs.

With Invisus and Wells Fargo, if your identity is stolen, they provide you with a do-it-yourself pack [this is typically known as Monitoring - they let you know it may have happened to you but you have to do the work; they may offer “Resolution” - if they not only send you a pack but they walk YOU through it], which contains form letters that you have to send to every financial organization with whom you have dealings, explaining the theft and attempting to remedy the situation.

According to the FTC, the average time this takes is 600 hours.

Pre-Paid Legal & Kroll have a different solution.  If needed, you sign over a Limited Power of Attorney to Kroll [the world’s leading risk consulting company] and their licensed investigators, and THEY spend the time sorting out the mess to make you whole again.

From my perspective, what they do tips the balance in favor of Pre-Paid Legal & Kroll, Inc. ; though, if computer security is your primary concern, you may wish to consider the physical/computer security options.

Something to keep in mind - professionals steal your identity ~~ Why not have professionals do the work for you?

Terry Kohler, Certified IDentity Theft Risk Management Specialist [through the Institute of Fraud Risk Management], has been marketing the Pre-Paid Legal and Kroll services, both on-line and person, helping others save thousands of $ like he has, since 2005 and protects himself and his family with Pre-Paid Legal and Identity Theft Shield[tm]. Details of the plans can be found here: * http://www. talktoday. us * [each link there has a 4-min video] and details of the Business Opportunity marketing such plans can be found here: * http://terrykohler. buildlastingsuccess. com * [copy links between the asterisk and paste to your browser, deleting the spaces after the . [dots] [sorry to request that of you — but for those two sites this is how I am reducing spam]

Posted in IDT - Reviews | Print | No Comments »

July 7, 2009 by Terry.

This information can help you understand if the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act applies to you.   GLBA = aka. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act, Pub. L. No. 106-102,113 Stat. 1338 (November 12,1999).

It is important to note that it does NOT apply if you simply take credit cards for payment.  Does your organization provide financial services that place you under the security provisions of GLBA, which includes regulations to protect consumers’ personal financial information?

• Do you provide financial advice for a fee?
• Do you broker investments or mortgages?
• Do you collect personal financial information pursuant to granting loans?
• Have you negotiated a contract with a financial service provider or do you plan to in the future?
• Do you collect personal financial information pursuant to any other “financial product or service”?
• Do you collect payment on which interest is paid? [Deferred payment plans that do not charge interest do not apply.)
• Do you collect personal financial information pursuant to issuing credit, including credit cards? [accepting credit does not apply here]

Terry Kohler
Certified IDentity Theft Risk Management Specialist
Talk Solutions Today

Posted in IDT - Legislation | Print | No Comments »

July 6, 2009 by Terry.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush signed into law a measure imposing mandatory prison terms for criminals who use identity theft in committing terrorist acts and other offenses.

Posted in IDT - History | Print | No Comments »

July 6, 2009 by Terry.

News from New York State Insurance Department

07/06/2009

Acting Insurance Superintendent Kermitt Brooks today warned New York State licensed insurance agents and brokers to be aware of an identity theft scam involving telephone calls used to target insurance professionals in at least a half dozen states.

The scam involves individuals who telephone agents and brokers and pretend to be state insurance department representatives. The callers tell potential victims that their licenses to sell insurance will be cancelled because of outstanding paperwork or fines unless they provide credit card numbers and other personal information to pay fines.

“It’s important for agents and brokers in New York State to be aware of this because these types of scams typically travel across the country. The scam has already been reported in a half dozen states from California to Ohio,” Brooks said.

“It is not the policy, practice or procedure of the New York State Insurance Department to solicit any personal information over the phone. Agents or brokers who receive phone calls like this should immediately contact local law enforcement authorities and the Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau,” Brooks said.

The Frauds Bureau can be reached toll-free at 1-888-FRAUDNY.

Posted in IDT - Scams, News Alerts | Print | No Comments »