Tag: identity theft

Identity Theft Prevention 101

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Ensuring Your Identity Is Protected From The Cyber World

Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, nearly everyone has experienced a stolen identity. As identity theft continues to grow in commonality and as we become more and more dependent on technology, it is important that you learn of ways in which you can avoid this common occurrence.

Ways To Prevent Identity Theft:

  • While you may think that it is smart to have all important documentation on you at all times in case you need to retrieve information, this is extremely dangerous and leaves you especially vulnerable to identity theft. Unpack your wallet or purse or all important documents that you do not need on a daily basis.
  • You must be careful of shoulder surfers. This includes when you are entering your PIN at a public place to make a payment.
  • How often do you check your bank statements? This is one of the most important things you can do as it will allow you to detect any problems as soon as they occur. Informing your bank or credit company right when you see one suspicious charge will ensure that you do not become responsible for the charges and you can cancel your cards to avoid additional charges.
  • While you may see no harm in leaving your mail sit in the mailbox each week and only collecting it periodically, this leaves you extremely vulnerable to identity theft.
  • Each homeowner should have a paper shredder in their house so that they can properly dispose of documents with sensitive information on them. Despite popular action, simply shredding them by hand may not do the trick.

Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for all of your California identity theft insurance needs. We can help you obtain the right identity theft insurance in California until you are protected from the unpredictable nature of the cyber world.

Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Identity theft is becoming a common problem in today’s society. Unfortunately, as technology advances, so do the minds and capabilities of cyber attackers and hackers. These criminals have become skilled in password guessing and privacy invasion. Gathered are some helpful tips for preventing identity theft, so that you and your identity can feel confident in your security:

  • One of the most vital steps in protecting your identity is password protection. Criminals know the common combinations that make up most passwords, stressing the importance of choosing a unique password that does not have connections to your middle name, high school jersey number, street address, pet’s name, etc. We recommend combining letters, numbers, unique words, symbols, and both capital and lower case letters to deter criminals. For example, “B0ot$!” would be a clever password that would be difficult to guess.
  • Protection starts with the security of the technology you store and access your sensitive data on. There are a variety of software programs you can install into your devices that will actually safeguard your identity to the fullest. If you are not sure which software to download, ask a computer retailer for their professional advice.
  • Stop traveling with your sensitive information! How many rarely used credit cards can be found in your wallet? Do a thorough cleaning of your wallet and take out anything that holds your sensitive information but does not need to be carried around with you.
  • It is imperative that you invest in a water shredder so that all sensitive documents can be disposed of properly. This will ensure that your information does not get in the wrong hands.

We hope these helpful tips assist in avoiding identity theft, but often there is nothing you can do to prevent such an occurrence. If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, do not hesitate to ask us for professional advice and assistance. Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in Murrieta for all of your California insurance needs.

Curbing Corporate Identity Theft: A Three-Step Approach

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

The Supreme Court ruled in the controversial Citizens United case, that corporations have rights similar to those of an individual. If follows that they have identities and are vulnerable to identity theft.

Although insurance offers one way to manage this risk, it might well be a long time before a company discovers the theft — at which point, it would be too late. To avoid or minimize the danger of having your corporate identity stolen, we’d recommend a three-step approach:

  1. Storing sensitive information. Sensitive files and information (credit card numbers, medical data, Social Security numbers, etc.) might be stored on computers, external drives, filing cabinets, or mobile devices. It’s wise to consolidate and secure this data either physically behind lock and key or by using electronic network security measures. Be sure to train employees on handling, storing, and disposing of this type of information properly.
  2. Your business documentation. Identity thieves might use highly sophisticated or surprisingly elementary and low-tech techniques for delving into a company’s records and misappropriating them. These might include intercepting paper mail, stealing trash, or physically taking documents. To safeguard this information, determine what records you need to run the business, inventory them, and use electronic statements to limit the amount of mail containing company information. Never share financial details or documents through e-mail!
  3. Credit reports. Check your company’s credit reports regularly for unusual charges or bills.

The Federal Trade Commission (http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus69-protecting-personal-information-guide-business) provides a variety of resources you can use to help protect your corporate identity and confidential customer information against identity thieves.

Our Protection Coach’s will be happy to offer their help — just give us a call. 877-994-6787

Identity Theft: It’s a Jungle Out There

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Despite the explosive growth of online identity theft, the great majority of personal information is stolen or lost in other ways, according to one recent study.

A nationwide survey of claims data by Travelers insurance company found that nearly three in four cases of identity fraud (73%) did not involve cyber-crime. According to Travelers, such stolen or misplaced items as wallets and pocketbooks were the most common known causes of these claims. The theft of drivers licenses, Social Security cards, or other forms of personal identification ranked second. Burglaries ranked third, followed by cyber breaches, including Internet scams and old-fashioned forgeries.

To protect yourself against all varieties of identity theft, experts recommend these guidelines:

  • Check your monthly financial statements to detect any suspicious activity (in case you find any discrepancy, contact the financial institution immediately).
  • Carry only essential credit cards
  • Keep critical documents in a secure place
  • Avoid scams by not disclosing personal information if you receive an unsolicited request
  • Shred old bills and financial statements
  • Store purses and wallets in a safe place
  • Never print account information on an outgoing mail envelope
  • Be careful about sharing personal information on social media
  • Ask for a free report annually from the national credit reporting agencies.

You might also consider purchasing Identity theft insurance. Many policies provide coverage for lost or stolen funds; long distance calls to resolve, report, or discuss the fraud; the cost of notarizing fraud affidavits, certified mail, or other documents needed to restore compromised credit; loan re-application fees due to incorrect credit information; and attorney fees (if pre-approved).

For more information, please get in touch with our Protection Team. (877)994-6787

Keeping Your Identity Safe From The Internet and Telephone Scams

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

What would you say the fastest growing crime in the United States is today? If identity theft came to mind, then you’re exactly right. Statistics by the Federal Trade Commission show that over 20% of all identity theft cases involve the internet and telecommunications. While you might think identify theft scams are easy to spot and avoid, the criminals behind such scams devote themselves to putting together emails, phone calls, and websites that appear enticingly legitimate.

Most email and telephone identity theft scams ask you to provide your Social Security number, credit card account information, or banking account information. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, unless you initiate the call and know you’re speaking with a legitimate representative from the company you’re doing business with, you should never give out any personal or financial information.

Of course, there are innumerable scams circulating the country. The following are a few of the most commonly seen:

Moving Money Scams / Nigerian Money Offers. The “can you help me move my money from my country” scams were around before the internet was even a thought. Despite people being aware of the con, these scams still make $100 million each year. The scammers will send out mass emails. They claim to be in a foreign country, often Nigeria. They ask the recipient to assist them in moving their money out of their country and promise to pay the recipient from helping them. The explanation for the request is often a heartbreaking tale or humanitarian cause like a sick relative needing a surgery.

Phisher / Account Verification Scams. These scams involve the scammer purchasing domain names that closely resemble that of legitimate and reputable businesses. One of the most recent scams involved the E-Bay domain name. The scammers purchased domain names like change-ebay.com and ebay-verification.net and sent out mass emails asking consumers to provide their personal and credit card information. The emails often asked the recipient to verify a purchase or made threats to cancel the account if the recipient didn’t provide the information. Other companies being used in alike scams include: AOL, PayPal, MSN, Discover Card, Best Buy, and Bank of America. Even if you’ve recently purchased an item or made a transaction with a company, you should never comply with emails asking for personal or financial information. Most companies don’t conduct business in such a manner. To make sure, use the official phone number for the involved company to find out if the request is legitimate.

Get Your Free Credit Report Scams. Most correspondence related to getting a free credit report will turn out to be a scam in one way or another. Free is usually the relative word since most receive a bill charging for the service after it’s used. Other free credit report scams are simply after your Social Security number.

You’ve Won a Free Gift Scam. The phone call or email saying that you’ve won a free gift is luring. The scammer will claim the gift is free, but that they need your credit card information to cover the shipping and handling. With your credit card number in hand, they can use it for a lot more than shipping and handling. Just remember that few things are free and those that are don’t require a credit card.

You’ve Won the Canadian or Netherlands Lottery Scams. According to the FBI, this scam has collected approximately $80 to $100 million so far. Keep in mind that you first must buy a ticket or enter a lottery to win it. If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you haven’t won.

Questionnaires. This is a request for your personal and financial information under the guise of a friendly questionnaire. The scammer often claims to be a childhood or old social network friend. The questionnaire may blatantly ask you for your info or be subtly collecting information related to your account passwords by asking you your birthday, favorite things, name of your kids, and such. Delete the questionnaire. Giving false information only alerts the scammer they’ve reached someone willing to respond and possibly provide inadvertent information in the future.

IRS Audit Scams. Scammers have sent out emails claiming the recipient must undergo an e-audit within 48 hours or face penalties and interest. The e-audit questionnaire asks for personal and financial information. Be aware that the IRS doesn’t correspond with taxpayers about audits via email and certainly doesn’t have anything called an e-audit.

Resume Scams. Identity theft even occurs from sending out a resume. Scammers can place a print or online help wanted ad just like a real employer can. Never place your birthday or Social Security number on resumes. That information can be collected by legitimate employers during the interview stage.

The best way to stay safe is NOT responding to anything you feel has the potential to be a scam. Most email carriers will have a ‘Mark as Spam’ button (or something similar to that) that you may click while reading the email.

We hope this article helps keep you and your loved ones safe. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please just give us a call, we are happy to help.

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