CREDIT FAIRY
Take charge of your credit. YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE.
CREDIT FRAUD
Anyone can protect themselves from credit fraud by calling (888) 5OPTOUT and getting themselves removed from automatic credit searches. This way any of the major reporting firms must contact you BEFORE releasing any of your confidential information. Do it now... it is a good thing! Apply for no-cost fraud alerts, which are good for 90 days at:
Equifax (800)525-6285
Experian (888)397-3742
TransUnion (800)680-7289
CREDIT REPORT
You have the right to free credit reports a year, one from each of the major credit bureaus. Apply for all three at: www.annualcreditreport.com or call (877) 322-8228.
CREDIT FREEZE
Each credit bureau has slightly different information and fee requirements. The California Department of Consumer Affairs
lists them on their site at
CALIF Consumer Affairs
PRE-APPROVED CREDIT OFFERS
To get off the firm-offer lists, go to: STOP PRE-APPROVED OFFERS OR call (888)567-8688. If you call a recorded voice will ask you for your Social Security Number. You DON'T have to give it. Stay SILENT and the process will move to other information requests.
FAKE CHECKS.ORG
Fake check scams target seniors and could costs you thousands. If anyone wants to give you a check or money order and asks you to
deposit it and then wire money, it's a scam. They are targeting seniors so, DON'T DO IT!
JUNK MAIL
to get off some catalog and coupon lists visit Stop Junk Mail
XL Pharmacy. DON'T USE THIS. I placed an order and NEVER got it. I cancelled it and notified my credit card.
About Identity Theft
What strikes young or old, male or female, rich or poor? Here's a hint: it topped the Federal Trade Commission's list of consumer complaints in 2002, and cost consumers $343 million during that year. If you guessed IDENTITY THEFT, you are correct. There were approximately 500,000 Identity Theft victims who filed a police report in 2001 alone.
What is Identity Theft? It's the act of using someone's personal information (such as a name, account number, driver's license, health insurance card, or Social Security number, for example) without that person's knowledge, and using the assumed identity to commit fraud or theft. Often, the personal information is used to get loans or open credit-card accounts. Some victims who have had their identity stolen have lost job opportunities, been refused loans and housing, and been left with destroyed credit and reputations.
Identity Theft victims and financial experts have offered a variety of precautions to help protect against this crime, including:
Keep track of personal information and only share the information with a company that is known and trusted. Read and understand the fine print in every document.
Protect your Social Security number and mother's maiden name. Avoid giving personal information out over the phone. Avoid posting your Social Security number on your checks, outside of envelopes, etc.
Minimize the number of identification information and financial cards carried in a wallet and sign all new credit cards upon receipt. Write "Check ID" after your signature as a note to shopkeepers to ask for identification.
Keep new and canceled checks in a safe place, and report lost or stolen checks to the issuing financial institution immediately.
Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, public trash receptacles, or unattended gas pumps. Save them to match against your monthly bills, and then shred them.
Buy only from secure Internet sites. Look for the closed lock icon to appear at the bottom of your browser or "https" to display in the URL to check the site's security status.
Shred any documents that have any personal information or credit account numbers on them before discarding, including tax returns and unwanted credit card offers.
Report all lost or stolen credit cards. If you applied for a new credit card and it has not arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company that is issuing the card.
Follow up with creditors if bills do not arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has changed your billing address to cover his/her tracks.
Notify credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or telephone number. Make sure to contact the sender if your statements are not received in the mail by their usual time.
Monitor your credit. Check your credit report regularly from the three national credit reporting agencies for any unfamiliar changes, such as new accounts, inquiries, or public records.
Review your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement annually to check for fraud. If you haven't received one lately, you can call 1-800-772-1213.
By keeping an eye on your statements and regularly monitoring your credit, you will be taking measures to protect your credit against the extensive damage of ID theft.
FROM: Verizon Wireless Information Security Education & Awareness: Phishing Scams: Regions Bank Phishing Scam Information Security Education & Awareness advisories are issued to help keep employees informed about computer security-related issues.
Phishing scams usually involve e-mails claiming to be from a legitimate company, typically a financial organization such as a bank, credit card company, or an on-line payment institution. The e-mail indicates there is a problem with your account or warns of a possible fraud threat, stating you need to update your personal information to rectify the problem. A link is provided to take you to their web site. However, the web site you are taken to is a 'spoofed' web site, made to resemble the actual web site of the organization in the e-mail, but under someone else's control. Once you access this web site you will be asked to provide personal information, such as your social security number, account/user Id and passwords, bank account information, PIN numbers, addresses, etc. Phishing scammers then use this information to commit identity theft, buy merchandise under your name, or take money out of your bank accounts.
Recently an e-mail claiming to be from Regions Bank has been received by Verizon Wireless employees. The subject line is: "Regions Bank: Fraud Verification Process". This is a Phishing scam, one of eight different recent Phishing scams to use the name of Regions Bank. It can be difficult to determine if an e-mail is legitimate. However, there are things to look for to avoid becoming a victim of a Phishing scam:
¨ Financial institutions almost never ask their clients to provide personal information via e-mail.
¨ Be wary of any e-mail asking you to provide personal information, especially those that are 'urgent'.
¨ Do not use links embedded in an e-mail. Instead call the company in question to inquiry about the legitimacy of an e-mail.
¨ NEVER fill out forms in e-mails that ask for personal information. Once again, call the organization.
¨ Check the e-mail for errors in spelling and grammar. While this once was a sure sign of a scam, Phishing scammers are getting better at avoiding these types of grammatical errors.
¨ Review your bank and credit card statements for accuracy as soon as they are received. Contact the financial institution immediately if anything looks suspicious.
¨ Keep your computer's operating system, Internet browser, and anti-virus software up-to-date with the latest patches. Verizon Wireless does this on company computers.
¨ NEVER provide personal information to anyone without verifying they are who they claim to be.
Visit the Information Security Education & Awareness web site to learn more about how to detect and avoid Phishing scams. You will find a web page devoted to Phishing Scams containing a Newsletter, Security Brochure, Poster, and Quiz, as well as other useful information.
Remember, Security Is Everyone's Responsibility!
DO NOT CALL LIST:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to give consumers a choice about whether they want to receive most telemarketing calls. It will be illegal for most telemarketers to call a number listed on the registry. For more information about how you can participate visit the California Attorney General's website. CA Attorney General
Let your telephone answering machine answer BEFORE you pickup the phone. Lots of the telemarketing services simply stop calling numbers with answering machines. I get just one or two unwanted calls a month now. Of course, you'll have to train yourself not to pickup immediately. Tell your family and friends about your new procedure, they'll understand.
SENIOR'S ALERT... the internet is the newest breeding ground for crooks to hook dreamers or the trusting.
If it sounds to good to be true...BEWARE, it is probably a scam. Check-it-out thoroughly before you sign anything or part with any money!
NEVER invite a door-to-door or salesperson into your home. It isn't bad manners to protect yourself!
Feel pressured? Afraid? Tell them you always discuss everything with a son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, relative, attorney, neighbor, police, etc., before you'll make a commitment. When they claim this is an extra special deal and they need an answer right now... BEWARE... it is a scam! CLOSE YOUR DOOR or HANG-UP! NEVER be afraid to tell them that you'll contact them IF you decide to proceed. BE FIRM... tell them not to contact you again!
If you think you're being ripped off or receiving suspicious or questionable mail, telephone calls, high pressure sales pitches, e-mail offers: STOP!
DON'T SIGN ANYTHING!
DON'T GIVE ANYONE ANY MONEY.
DON'T LET ANYONE PRESSURE YOU OUT OF YOUR HARD EARNED CASH... NO MATTER WHO THEY CLAIM TO BE.
Step away from this, if it is legit, that offer will reappear.
REPORT them to: FRAUD.ORG and further protect yourself by call your local police too.
GET INVOLVED... DON'T let the low life crooks or scam artists get away!
If you don't get involved they will rip off your neighbors, friends, relatives, etc.
This is OUR world and there is no room for low-life scammers, crooks, terrorist, etc ... REPORT THEM.
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