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The world is spying on you, and you don’t really even know it. A recent investigation by the Wall Street Journal concludes that spying on consumers in order to sell their data is one of the fastest-growing internet businesses. Here is a summary of the most striking findings:
“The Study found that the nation’s 50 top websites on average installed 64 pieces of tracking technology onto the computers of visitors, usually with no warning… the Journal found new tools that scan in real time what people are doing on a Web page, then instantly assess location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions. These profiles of individuals, constantly refreshed, are bought and sold on stock-market like exchanges.”
The tracking software records and analyzes your browsing patterns. It knows if you’re surfing porn sites, researching bipolar disorder or watching teen movie trailers. With startling accuracy, it interpret’s these patterns and sells the information to websites, sometimes within seconds, that want access to your wallet. What’s the big deal, you ask? Why not let them market to us in highly targeted ways?
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: Cookies, Identity Theft Prevention, Internet, John Sileo, Privacy, surveillance, Tracking, Wall Street Journal
Senior Citizens are more vulnerable to Identity Theft because they are more trusting and less aware of the increasing variety of scams. Although most of our older relatives have no interests in the complexities of smart phones, computers, the Internet, and online banking; many that give it a try leave themselves defenseless against thieves.
The Elderly can be easily targeted online or through the mail in old fashioned schemes to steal their identity and ultimately their money. They are more likely to tell a stranger stories of their past that include simple password reminders (birth date, city, childhood pet, etc). They are less likely to suspect that an interested individual is a con-artist and not just a new friend. They can also be conned through the phone or in person by thieves impersonating a representative from a charity or a well-known company.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: Elderly, Identity Fraud, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Fraud, Identity Theft Prevention, Identity Theft Protection, John Sileo, senior citizens
The FTC just busted a long-running internet scam where offshore thieves set up virtual companies and stole millions of dollars from US consumers one small charge at a time.
“It was a very patient scam,” said Steve Wernikoff, a staff attorney with the FTC who is prosecuting the case. According to him, the scammers found loopholes in the credit card processing system that allowed them to set up fake U.S. companies that then ran more than a million phony credit card transactions through legitimate credit card processing companies.
The fraudsters were able to fly under the radar for so long because they only charged consumers between $ .25 and $9 and set up over 100 fake companies to pull off these transactions. In this specific case they charged over 1.35 million credit cards a total of $9.5 million dollars – those nickles and dimes really add up! Shockingly, 94% of these charges went undetected by the credit card holder because they didn’t notice an unusual charge on their credit card statements and fraud detection agencies rarely detect anything under $10.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: credit card fraud, credit card scam, Fraud, FTC, Identity Theft Prevention, Identity Theft Speaker, John Sileo, scammers, Theft, thief, Victim
Wouldn’t you think Ben Stiller is famous enough to be immune to losing his identity to a thief? Not so! Credit card scams can bring anyone to their knees, even Hollywood’s most famous!
Many celebrities have recently been the victims of a credit card scam that seems too easy to be true. All it took was the suspect calling the credit card companies using the stars’ personal information, claiming the cards had been lost. He requested the replacement cards be sent to a Chicago address and in a matter of days was able to begin his shopping spree. Eventually, a skeptical undercover agent from the US Postal Inspection Service was able to think like a spy and detect the fraud after he hand-delivered the cards to the suspect.
Now this week Adedamola Olatunji, 29, a Nigerian-born man who allegedly used Stiller’s card to run up charges on iTunes and an on-line dating service, was indicted on forgery, mail fraud, theft, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud and other felony charges.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: Ben Stiller, Credit card Scams, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, Identity Theft Speaker, John Sileo, social engineering, Think Like A Spy
Protect yourself from identity theft by shredding daily
By Michael Berg
Modern criminals may be stealing personal information electronically through sophisticated online data mining tools, but small-time crooks sorting through food wrappers and dirty diapers in the quest for discarded paperwork ‘still lurk.
In fact, not shredding potentially sensitive documents before you dispose of them is almost like begging to become one of the Federal Trade Commission’s estimated 9 million victims of identity theft in the United States every year. And with adequate shredders available for as low as $50, there’s almost no excuse — every household should have one.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: CreditCards.com, Data Breach Speaker, Fellowes, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo, Paper Shredders
Along with the many benefits of the Census come some privacy risks. While Privacy Rights Clearinghouse does not focus on Census issues as one of its core missions, we encourage you to visit the website of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). EPIC has extensive resources about the Census posted at http://epic.org/privacy/census/.Census Scams. There have been reports of scammers attempting to defraud the public by posing as Census workers. The Census potentially presents an opportunity for con artists to collect personal information about you to commit fraud. Typically, scammers will seek to obtain information such as your Social Security number or financial information. Don’t fall for the trap! Keep the following tips in mind to make sure that you don’t fall prey to a scammer:
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: 2010 Census Scams, census, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo, Privacy Rights Clearing House
The Christian Science monitor published an article last week discussing the involvement of Identity Theft in the Dubai Assassination of a senior Hamas militant. Fake passports were created and used by the suspected hit-squad. The ability for people to easily create these identity documents can create huge personal, professional, and international diplomatic destruction. Occurrences like these show how powerful Identity Theft can be and the extent to which the identity thieves can reach.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: Dubai Assasination, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo
I was recently featured in an article by the Otago Daily Times in Dunedin, New Zealand during my stay there. I discuss the importance of protecting you Identity, not only at home, but also when you travel. With over 9 million Identity Theft victims in 2008 alone, you can never be too careful!
One of the first things American public speaker John Sileo did on his return to Dunedin this month was buy a paper shredder.
Not that he is paranoid, he says, but this self-proclaimed expert on identity fraud does not take chances with personal information.
Click Here to read the entire article.
John Sileo became America’s leading Identity Theft Speaker & Expert after he lost his business and more than $300,000 to identity theft and data breach. His clients include the Department of Defense, Pfizer and the FDIC. To learn more about having him speak at your next meeting or conference, contact him by email or on 800.258.8076
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: Fraud, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo, Privacy, travel
Detection: Fraud and Identity Theft.
“Consumers are spending considerably more time on fraud Resolution, up to an average of 30 hours in 2008. This increase may be attributed to the increased sophistication of fraud schemes.”
– 2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report, Javelin Strategy & Research
Most cases of identity theft are discovered by the victim, which reinforces the importance of monitoring your various accounts for suspicious behavior. Here are a few of the most common warning signs for the detection of fraud, identity theft or data breach:
The Top 15 Ways Victims Detect Identity Theft
- You receive a data breach notice in the mail from a company you do business with.
- Your bills or statements are not arriving in your mail (or email) on time.
- You notice unauthorized charges on your credit card bill or debit card statement.
Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: detecting fraud, Detection Fraud, Fraud, fraud detecting, Fraud Detection, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo, Privacy
