Identity Theft Info IdentityTheftInfo.blogspot.com

Credit card insecurity

2006-01-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, I did a huge portion of my shopping online.
This year, I noticed it wasn't enough to simply type my credit card number into the browser at J. Crew or GapKids or whatever secure site I was patronizing. They all wanted the three-digit security code off the back of my MasterCard as well. I gave it up willingly.
But a warning issued recently from the New York State Banking Department got me thinking twice. It cautioned about a new scam in which this code is the key.
Here's how it works: Scammers, who have already obtained your credit card number in other ways, call your house pretending to be the fraud and security department of your credit card company.

New York Daily News - Home - Credit card insecurity

As lawmakers dither, identity-theft victim remains trapped in long nightmare - Technology

2006-01-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK As members of Congress continue to dither over legislation concerning data security, consumers' rights and identity theft nearly a full year after the ChoicePoint debacle, perhaps they should meet Raymond Lorenz.

In the early 1990s, someone ran amok using Lorenzo's identity. It was used to rack up tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent credit card debt. It was given to the police after various traffic violations. And a man even used the name Raymond Lorenzo when he was arrested and indicted in 1991 in Suffolk County, New York, for, among other things, burglary, forgery and criminal possession of a weapon

As lawmakers dither, identity-theft victim remains trapped in long nightmare - Technology - International Herald Tribune

Spear phishers target eBay

2006-01-06T06:26:00.000-08:00

Security researchers have uncovered a campaign of targeted spam messages that seek to defraud eBay sellers. Cybercrooks are targeting eBay sellers by sending forged auction inquires from what appears to be eBay's "Question from eBay Member" message portal, according to US-based security reseller Greenview Data, which markets the SpamStopsHere junk mail filtering service.
The junk mail messages seek to dupe account holders into following a "Respond Now" link button in the email which directs users to a fraudulent eBay login screen. Once the seller has entered their login information, fraudsters "hijack" the seller's account and steal their identity...

Spear phishers target eBay - Yahoo! News UK

Sad State of Data Security

2006-01-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

How does this keep happening? Companies have been publicly humiliated, slapped with audits, and threatened with prosecution, but sensitive personal data continues to be compromised. The U.S. Department of Justice is the latest to demonstrate its information-security incompetence. The mistake: exposing Social Security numbers on its Web site.
It's the IT problem that just won't go away. From the time early last year that ChoicePoint Inc. admitted it had been duped into revealing personal data to identity thieves, dozens of other businesses, government agencies and schools have followed with their own admissions of ineptitude. In most cases, victims can't do much more than keep a watchful eye on their financial statements and credit reports -- and hope for the best. Not surprisingly, fraud is on the rise and consumer confidence is on the decline...

Sad State of Data Security

Mobile malware, phishing activities to surge in 2006

2006-01-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

VIRUS writers have found a new playground: the extremely pervasive mobile phones.
According to the McAfee AVERT (Anti-Virus and Emergency Response Team) Labs, the rapid evolution of smartphone technology and the growing use of converged mobile devices will fuel the rise in the number of mobile malware in 2006.
Mobile phone viruses would be particularly prevalent this year as virus writers take advantage of the proliferation of mobile devices and the fact that users were less likely to install mobile security solutions, the antivirus firm said.
The perception that the threat of mobile malware was much less than that of its PC counterpart would encourage virus writers to come up with even more sophisticated threats, the McAfee AVERT Labs added.

Mobile malware, phishing activities to surge in 2006 - INQ7.net

Identity Theft Laws Elevate Security to the C-Level

2006-01-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

What do Time Warner, Lexis-Nexis, ADP, and Bank of America all have in common? They all suffered breaches in customer data security in 2005, and the incidents all fueled calls for federal legislation that could lead to onerous security demands on organizations holding consumer information. Even if legislators show restraint in demanding new controls, it's time for corporations to create C-level security positions.
Security breaches now lead to high-profile public disclosures thanks to state laws such as California's Security Breach Information Act (SP 1386) and Washington's "Breach Disclosure" law (SB 6043), which require that consumers in those states be notified when their personal data is compromised. With other states eyeing similar bills, some in Congress say it's time for a nationwide approach-an outcome business might favor, too, as long as the law isn't too demanding.

Compliance Pipeline Identity Theft Laws Elevate Security to the C-Level

Financial institutions set dubious record for ID theft

2006-01-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

A final flurry of computer security breaches marked the end of 2005 -- an unfortunate but not surprising end to a record year for potential identity-theft activity.From banks and hospitals to government agencies, almost 100 breaches were reported in 2005, including a half-dozen in December alone, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit watchdog group in California.Major institutions such as Bank of America and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. were victimized, as were little-known data-technology outfits such as Georgia-based ChoicePoint and CardSystems Solutions Inc.

Financial institutions set dubious record for ID theft - OrlandoSentinel.com: Business

Evonne Williams sentenced

2006-01-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

A Cicero woman will spend 2 to 4 years in state prison after pleading guilty to the identity theft of 16 people. Prosecutors say Evonne Williams had access to credit card information through her employer, Padcare, INC. in DeWitt. In addition to prison time, Williams must pay just under $16,000 in restitution and receive treatment for a drug problem.

News 10 Now 24 Hour Local News TOP STORIES Evonne Williams sentenced

Attack Vulnerability Worries Windows Users

2006-01-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

"Current WMF activity has already risen to levels similar to that of the emerging zero-day attacks against Internet Explorer in the fall of 2003," said Ken Dunham, senior engineer at iDefense. "In that situation, attacks skyrocketed over a one month period, which is highly likely for the existing WMF attacks in early 2006."

E-Commerce News: Security : Attack Vulnerability Worries Windows Users

An investigation into anti-spyware

2006-01-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

A report by Mark Russinovich has raised serious concerns about the seedier side of anti-spyware. He investigated a number of programs that claimed to be spyware removal tools, and found that some of them not only do a poor job of detecting spyware, but may in fact be hazards themselves.

An investigation into anti-spyware

Windows PCs face 'huge' virus threat

2006-01-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

Computer security experts were grappling with the threat of a new weakness in Microsoft's Windows operating system that could put hundreds of millions of PCs at risk of infection by spyware or viruses.
The news marks the latest security setback for Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, whose Windows operating system is a favourite target for hackers

Windows PCs face 'huge' virus threat - Financial Times - MSNBC.com

Top 10 tips to keep that new computer spyware-free

2006-01-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

Got a new computer for Christmas? Are you worried about all the spyware horror stories you've read? You should be. I've heard varying numbers, but it's said that putting an unprotected computer on a high-speed connection results in getting infected within a few minutes. I just read that the time is getting longer, but that's not much comfort. By all means you should have a router if you're on a high speed connection. A router provides some protection, but is only the beginning. Ok, now the new machine is booted up the first time and ready to go. It's on the net. In this order, here's what to do....

Top 10 tips to keep that new computer spyware-free Spyware Confidential ZDNet.com

New Attacks 'Spear' Credit Union CEOs

2006-01-04T05:44:00.000-08:00

Malicious hackers are targeting CEOs of U.S. credit unions with phishing e-mails that try to take advantage of a recently patched Internet Explorer hole to compromise systems used by the credit unions, according to the Credit Union Information Security Professionals Association, a group of IT professionals who work at credit unions.

New Attacks 'Spear' Credit Union CEOs

Westpac targeted in latest spam attack -

2006-01-04T05:42:00.000-08:00

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Australia is again being bombarded by a series of 'phishing' attacks by fraudsters sending malicious spam to email users, this time designed to steal personal banking details from Westpac customers.
But despite the high volume of fraudulent email being reported by customers, banks said there had been relatively little financial loss.
The latest spate of phishing attacks take the form of an official looking email that asks recipients to confirm security details for an account at one of three Australian banks.

Westpac targeted in latest spam attack - Breaking - Technology - smh.com.au

Local residents warned of phishing scam

2006-01-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

It's called phishing, but it's not fun for consumers who find themselves on the end of the hook.Recently, Jefferson City citizens have been targets of the practice.Relying on fake e-mails, phishing is an Internet scam featuring links to what appears to be a bonafide Central Bank Web site. Complete with the official-looking dogwood logo, the e-mails warn that online home banking and bill paying services will be deactivated if the customer doesn't respond with the "requested information" soon.One woman recently was suckered. She reported the loss first to the bank and later to Jefferson City police.

Jefferson News Tribune

Phishing By The Numbers: 41,000 Blocked Sites in 2005

2006-01-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

The Netcraft Toolbar has blocked more than 41,000 confirmed phishing URLs since its launch last Dec. 28. The volume of URLs increased throughout the year, from about 3,000 per month in June to 5,000-plus in September and more than 8,000 in October and November. With a year's worth of data in hand, an analysis of attacks illustrates common patterns and practices in the operation of phishing scams.

IT Observer Phishing By The Numbers: 41,000 Blocked Sites in 2005

EBay Users Hit by Mass Phishing Attacks

2006-01-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

Popular online auction site eBay was the target for 96 percent of all UK phishing attacks in December, according to security specialists Fortinet.
Fraudsters seem to have anticipated the Christmas rush to use eBay to buy presents -- and sell unwanted ones -- and are targeting eBay users in a widespread assault.
Guillaume Lovet, Threat Response team leader at Fortinet, said: "One of the easiest and quickest ways to make money on the Internet is setting up an auction on eBay for a [bogus] item, cashing the money, then disappearing.

EBay Users Hit by Mass Phishing Attacks - NewsFactor Network

Computer security breaches raise identity theft concerns

2005-12-27T21:21:00.000-08:00

Ames, Ia. — Karen Scoggin thought she could block identity thieves if she refused to carry credit cards.

Now she has to worry about how many people have their hands on her Social Security number.

Scoggin, who works at the Iowa State University Book Store, was one of about 3,000 ISU employees whose personal data might have been viewed by hackers who infiltrated two computers earlier this month.

DesMoinesRegister.com

Texas expands spyware lawsuit against Sony BMG

2005-12-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

AUSTIN (AP) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott expanded his lawsuit against Sony BMG Music Entertainment on Wednesday, alleging that a second form of anti-piracy technology used by the label violates the state's spyware and deceptive trade practices laws.
Abbott sued Sony BMG in November, saying the world's second-largest music label surreptitiously included spyware on millions of CDs through technology known as XCP. That technology, included on 52 Sony BMG titles, could leave computers vulnerable to hackers, he said.

MercuryNews.com | 12/21/2005 | Texas expands spyware lawsuit against Sony BMG

Basic Rules Plus Common Sense Add Up to Security

2005-12-27T21:18:00.000-08:00

For some people, the worst gift ever would be a new computer with an Internet connection. One embittered user wrote in October to say that he was "so frustrated with hackers, virus, Trojans, worms, constant upgrades, security patches, etc, etc." that he was going to suspend his Internet account.

I'm guessing that a new laptop wasn't on his wish list this year.

Basic Rules Plus Common Sense Add Up to Security

Internet users now part of phishing harvest

2005-12-27T21:17:00.000-08:00

It takes just seconds, a few taps on the keyboard, a few clicks of the mouse, and Jason Thomas has launched a computer bug that harvests e-mail addresses. After a minute, he aborts the program and unveils the list of addresses he's collected. "It's very easy to do," he said. "And I'm no techie by any stretch of the imagination."

This is how phishing usually begins, with your e-mail address. Next comes an automated e-mail, sent by a spam generator, which instructs you to visit a fake Web site and "update your credit billing information" or "verify your PayPal login."

Then, if the scammer is lucky and you're not computer savvy, you hand over your name, credit-card number, and other personal data – a valuable bundle of information that's sold on the black market to someone who wants to steal your identity and your line of credit.

Northwest Herald - Online

Seniors urged to beware of newest phone scam

2005-12-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

AUGUSTA (Dec 24): Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe, AARP Maine and TRIAD are warning senior consumers about potential fraud and identity theft by scam artists hoping to take advantage of the new Medicare-Part D Prescription Drug Benefit.

Beginning Jan. 2, 2006, the new, voluntary benefit will become available to Maine seniors with Medicare. Eighteen Medicare-approved private companies in Maine will provide this coverage, but there are already scams being reported across the country where someone offering to sell a benefit card contacts seniors either by telephone or in person.

VillageSoup - Government News - VillageSoup

Names leave no clus as to location

2005-12-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

It's common knowledge that identity theft is a growing problem. But who would have expected it to rear its ugly head in high school sports.

Yet here we are with some of the newer co-ops and consolidations bearing names that provide nary a hint of their location.

Try Central Prairie on for size. Likewise, Dakota Prairie, the North Star Bearcats and the Northern Lights. One of those appellations narrows things down to one of two states. The other two merely cut the possibilites down to anywhere in the northern hemisphere.
Bismarck Tribune Online - Bismarck, ND

Christmas ruined by card fraudsters

2005-12-27T20:58:00.000-08:00

A family of five had their Christmas ruined after they became the latest victims of identity card theft.

Debbie and Steven Grimshaw were unable to give each other Christmas presents after their account was cleaned out by crooks cloning credit cards.

The couple, who have three children under six, were devastated their festive funds had been taken and confused as to how the details were copied.

Norwich Evening News 24

Shredders -- Let it rip

2005-12-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Everyone's been warned about identity theft. The idea that some hacker can snoop around your hard drive, obtain some account numbers and passwords, and clean out your funds has Americans reaching for the nearest Internet-security software.

However, it is far less likely that someone is going to break into your computer than it is that someone will sift through your garbage to get the same information.

One of the best ways to foil trash-picking identity thieves is to shred all sensitive documents before throwing them out. But which shredder to buy?

MONEY Magazine: Spend Tech: Shredders -- Let it rip - Oct. 21, 2005

Millions risk ID theft by failing to take action

2005-12-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

MILLIONS of people are putting themselves at risk from identity theft by failing to take basic precautions to guard against the crime, research showed today.

One in four admits to not shredding personal documents, despite the fact that these could be used by criminals to apply for credit in their name.

Edinburgh Evening News - Business - Millions risk ID theft by failing to take action

Want to keep your computers functioning? Here are some tips:

2005-12-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's the information technology manager's mandate to keep the computers and network running. Yet small business owners often get in his way. The following is a holiday wish list from tech support pros.

Practice safe computing.

Neil Fishman was in the home office of a client with a slow PC. Fishman is suspicious. He was here for the same problem the week before.

Fishman finds Internet worms, most likely from e-mail attachments. He finds 72 incidents of spyware, or software loaded when a user visits certain Web sites, including the online gambling sites the dad frequents.

Want to keep your computers functioning? Here are some tips: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Rootkits, cybercrime and OneCare

2005-12-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

The year in IT security
By John Leyden
Published Tuesday 27th December 2005 08:02 GMT
Get breaking Security news straight to your desktop - click here to find out how
2005 in review The year 2005 in net security will likely be remembered as the year of the Sony rootkit DRM controversy. In other ways the last 12 months continued the trend of profit becoming a primary driver for the creation of computer viruses. The last 12 months also witnessed a number of high-profile cybercrime prosecutions, including the sentencing of NetSky author Sven Jaschan.

Rootkits, cybercrime and OneCare | The Register

NAB customers baited in email scam [

2005-12-27T20:15:00.000-08:00

ONLINE fraudsters have targeted National Australia Bank customers over Christmas with a flood of hoax emails designed to trick account holders into revealing their internet banking details.

NAB has called for help from the Federal Police's Australian High Tech Crime Centre to track the source of tens of thousands of hoax emails sent to internet users.

Known as "phishing", this type of scam is a major contributor to Australia's $1.2 billion online crime industry being operated by sophisticated organised crime networks, according to the Australian Computer Emergency Response Team (AusCERT), which tracks viruses, hacker attacks and online fraud.

The Sunday Mail QLD: NAB customers baited in email scam [27dec05]

Will Smith identity thief sent back to prison

2005-12-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

PITTSBURGH - A man who stole actor Will Smith's identity to run up credit card debts is going back to prison for two years for violating probation, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Senior U.S. District Judge Alan N. Bloch concluded that Carlos Lomax, 45, formerly of Duquesne, was "not amenable" to probation, according to defense attorney Mark Lancaster.
Lomax has an earlier identity-theft conviction involving former Atlanta Hawks basketball player Steve Smith, now a TV commentator for the team.
Lomax was on probation after serving time for that crime - he ran up $81,000 on an American Express card in the basketball player's name - when he was arrested in the Will Smith case.

AP Wire | 12/27/2005 | Will Smith identity thief sent back to prison

Firms seek a US identity-theft law

2005-12-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

Some of the companies facing criticism for letting consumer data fall into the hands of identity thieves are among the biggest backers of proposed federal rules to safeguard personal information.
The reason: The companies fear even tougher state rules.

Bills introduced in Congress after lapses at ChoicePoint Inc., LexisNexis, and elsewhere would supersede the growing number of state laws, many of which impose stricter standards on data brokers, banks, and credit reporting agencies. Rigorous disclosure requirements in California's 2003 law -- the first in the nation -- brought many of the breaches to light

Firms seek a US identity-theft law - The Boston Globe

New laws target identity theft

2005-12-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

On Jan. 1 new Illinois legislation may provide more help to victims of identity theft.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has signed four new laws offering a wider range of consumer protection. The laws will help victims recover from identity theft faster and better protect their personal information.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. Last year alone, identity thieves cost Illinois consumers more than $550 million. On average, victims will spend about 600 hours and $1,500 repairing their credit.

Blagojevich hopes the new laws will help people protect their assets and their credit.

Beloit Daily News

Computer age allows criminals to cash in on identity theft

2005-12-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

After enjoying tacos with friends at a beachfront restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, Kelly O'Haire of Novato paid with her credit card, and before long, her $25 lunch tab turned into an $18,000 medical bill.
By the time O'Haire returned home from the long weekend, someone had charged to her account thousands of dollars in medical services at a clinic in Chihuahua, Mexico. She suspects her credit card number was stolen at the restaurant.

Marin Independent Journal - News - Marin

Top 10 tricks causing spyware epidemic

2005-12-21T17:54:00.000-08:00

Spyware tricks have become increasingly devious, making spyware and adware stick to machines longer, more difficult to remove and sometimes impossible to see with ordinary methods. In the spyware tricks series I wrote about seeing installations with multiple resuscitators, increasing numbers of randomly named files, even randomly named folders. Internet Explorer security settings are being changed by spyware and hosts files are being hijacked. We've recently seen installations of keyloggers and spam bots along with your garden variety of adware. Now add rootkits to that list. Let's look back at the top 10 tricks of 2005…

10. Spyware spread through Windows Media files as described by Ben Edelman, Eric Howes and Ed Bott in January. The Windows Media Player flaw that allowed the exploit involved DRM and has since been patched by Microsoft.

� Top 10 tricks causing spyware epidemic | Spyware Confidential | ZDNet.com

FTC says spam is on the decline; not all agree - The Boston Globe

2005-12-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON -- Those annoying ''spam" e-mails for Viagra or low-rate mortgages that clog computer users' mailboxes appear to be on the decline, federal regulators said yesterday

The Federal Trade Commission said the antispam law that took effect two years ago has helped curb unsolicited e-mail. Its report also credits advances in technology, such as better spam filters.

The report was met with some skepticism. ''For us, we have not seen one single instance where spam has actually gone down," said Jordan Ritter, cofounder of Cloudmark, an e-mail security firm in San Francisco.

FTC says spam is on the decline; not all agree - The Boston Globe

Teaching teens about ID theft

2005-12-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

Applying for a job at an electronics store two years ago, Zach Friesen was stunned to learn that the store manager was turning him down because of his terrible credit record.

"I looked at him and said, 'I've never had credit in my life. What are you talking about?'" the 19-year-old recalled.

Someone had rung up about $40,000 worth of bills related to a houseboat purchase under Friesen's name -- when he was 7 years old. The fraud went undetected for a decade, and only when he applied for the job did Friesen discover that he was a prime target for identity thieves, who are increasingly focusing on young people.

Teaching teens about ID theft

Protecting your identity

2005-12-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Yvonne Williams tapped into 16 credit card accounts. She was able to obtain this information through her work at Pad Care Inc.

Since then, Pad Care Inc. has stepped up its procedures, and officials say the issue of identity theft as a whole has other companies on alert.

News 10 Now | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Protecting your identity

For students, lessons on ID theft

2005-12-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

Montclair State University students are learning how to lessen their chances of falling victim to identity theft.

A workshop Tuesday was the first of several scheduled to inform students about the importance of using extreme care with their personal information.

The sessions are in response to an electronic blunder by a university staff member who mistakenly posted the names and Social Security numbers of 9,800 undergraduates on the Internet. The confidential information was online for at least four months.

"Protecting yourself ahead of time is the best way to go," said Madhu M. Medapalli of PNC Bank, who led the workshop with a colleague.

North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey!

Holiday shoppers, beware

2005-12-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is time to dig deep into your wallets and fork over some cash to spread mirth and merriment this holiday season.

And there could be no easier way to buy gifts than to do so online, right? But if you do not take prudent steps, bad things could happen. Keep reading.

Forrester Research predicts that online holiday shopping will increase a whopping 25 percent this year, with 2.5 million households making online purchases for the first time. Meanwhile, online privacy watchdog group Truste reports that 78 percent of Internet users in the United States will conduct some of their shopping online
Holiday shoppers, beware | Perspectives | CNET News.com

Anti-spyware Battles Rootkits with Rootkit Tactics

2005-12-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Anti-spyware software companies are adding features to their products that spot rootkits and other malicious programs that operate at the Windows "kernel," or core processing center.

The new kernel-mode features are a response to new, sophisticated spyware.

However, they have raised warnings from security analysts about instability in Windows and conflicts with anti-virus programs that also work at the kernel level.

Aluria Software of Lake Mary, Fla., became the latest anti-spyware vendor to add kernel-mode features.

Anti-spyware Battles Rootkits with Rootkit Tactics - Yahoo! News

Feds Flop At Stopping Spam

2005-12-15T21:36:00.001-08:00

The Federal Trade Commission is expected shortly to issue a report on the effectiveness of the CAN-SPAM Act, passed by Congress to combat unsolicited junk e-mail, but experts tell United Press International's The Web ahead of the report that spam continues to rapidly proliferate.
"The CAN-SPAM Act has been largely ineffective," said Edward Naughton, an intellectual-property law partner with the firm of Holland & Knight, based in Boston. "Most of the data, and my own experience, indicates that the volume of spam has increased since the statute became effective

Feds Flop At Stopping Spam

New Virus Marks New Strategy

2005-12-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

Dec. 14, 2005 — There's a new worm making its way around America Online that has opened a new front in the war to keep hackers from invading, disturbing and destroying personal computers.

It's an Internet worm attacking users of AOL's instant messaging software, sending unsuspecting users a message encouraging them to click on a link.

"What we continually say to users is 'don't ever click on a link you receive in an IM without asking the sender what it is and why they're sending it to you,'" said Krista Thomas, a spokeswoman for AOL.

ABC News: New Virus Marks New Strategy

Fake virus phishing scam targets McAfee:

2005-12-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

Anti-virus firm McAfee has been targeted by a phishing scam that purports to be a warning from the company about a new virus called Kongo31.XRW, which does not exist.
The phishing scam was discovered by rival anti-virus form F-Secure, which published the information on its Web site and said it had warned McAfee about the e-mail.

Fake virus phishing scam targets McAfee: ZDNet Australia: News: Software

Central Blood Bank Modifies Donor Identification Policy to Help Protect Against Identity Theft:

2005-12-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a proactive effort to protect blood donors against the threat of identity theft, beginning December 12 Central Blood Bank will no longer request donors to present full Social Security numbers as valid forms of identification. Central Blood Bank will continue to utilize the last four digits of the Social Security number as one way to verify identification.

Central Blood Bank Modifies Donor Identification Policy to Help Protect Against Identity Theft: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Identity Theft Victims Could Be Treated As Criminals

2005-12-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON -- A growing concern about identity theft is that victims could be treated as criminals, which happened to one Maryland woman.

Nicolle Robinson, of San Antonio, assumed the identity of Nicole Robinson, of Maryland, turning the latter's life upside down.

"In three months she totaled up $36,000, computers, personal loans, department store accounts," Nicole Robinson said.

The Texas imposter did it from thousands of miles away by stealing her Maryland namesake's Social Security number off her health insurance identification from a database.
nbc4.com - News - Identity Theft Victims Could Be Treated As Criminals

Meth addicts' other habit: Online theft

2005-12-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

EDMONTON, Alberta — Hot on the trail of identity thieves, veteran Edmonton Police Service detectives Al Vonkeman and Bob Gauthier last winter hustled to a local motel, a cinder-block establishment where rooms rent by the hour.

Twice before police had descended on locations in Edmonton and Calgary, 200 miles away, chasing down a tip about someone accessing a dial-up Internet account linked to an e-mail folder full of stolen identity data. Each time, the user logged off and vacated the premises before police arrived.

This time the motel's manager told the detectives that the phone in Room 24 was in use. As Vonkeman and Gauthier prepared to bust down the door, out strolled a garrulous drug addict, 25, whom they'd arrested before, followed by a younger man — a 21-year-old computer whiz — both sky-high on methamphetamine

USATODAY.com - Meth addicts' other habit: Online theft

Free ID Theft Protection Guide until 12/31/05

2005-12-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Protect Yourself Today With
The ID Theft Prevention Guide
Free Through December 31st, 2005

Identity Theft is a huge problem. It affections millions of people every year and it costs companies and individuals billions of dollars annually. The biggest crime here, really, is that there are simple things you can do to prevent it.

Download now FREE until 2006!

We have created this guide that has all the essentials to protecting yourself from identity theft. Some of this stuff is common sense. But we all know that common sense is not too common and everyone (just like me) can make a mistake and not pay attention all the time.

This Guide Takes You Step By Step

The steps to protect yourself are simple, but almost no know one takes all of them. This guide is designed to help you take action. Let's be honest. Most of us are a little bit lazy... especially about prevention. We want you to take action and then tell your friends about this resource so they can get it too.

ID Theft Basics

Former ISU Students At Risk For Identity Theft

2005-12-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

Pocatello -
A computer hacker now has personal information on thousands of Idahoans.

If you were a student or an employee at Idaho State University anytime during the past decade, your records may be compromised.

Free ID theft protection guide

KBCI 2 Boise, Idaho

State fighting label of ID theft leader

2005-12-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX - Arizona has the highest rate of identity theft in the nation, and state legislators and other officials are responding with proposals to make the crime harder to commit, toughen the punishment, give new protections to the public and help victims who lose privacy and money.

A month before the Arizona Legislature's 2006 regular session starts on Jan. 9, lawmakers have prefiled three bills on identity theft, and more measures are in the works.

Welcome to the Tucson Citizen

Fargo police officer finds identity theft hits home

2005-12-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

FARGO, N.D. - Identity theft has hit close to home for Police Officer Mike Clower.

When Clower tried to open a savings account for his young son, and he found out someone else was using his son's Social Security number.

AP Wire | 12/10/2005 | Fargo police officer finds identity theft hits home

Pair Plead Guilty In Elaborate Identity Theft Ring

2005-12-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

A man and a woman who gained access to the bank accounts of mostly wealthy people, stealing their identities and ruining their credit, pleaded guilty Friday to multiple identity theft and fraud charges.
Aviv Dotan, 32, pleaded guilty to eight felony charges and will be sentenced to four years in state prison.

As a result of the plea bargain, 73 counts of stealing access cards, grand theft, forgery, burglary and receiving stolen property were dismissed, said Deputy District Attorney Fiona Khalil.

Gia Chernyak, 21, also pleaded guilty to eight counts and will receive a two-year prison term. Seventy counts were dismissed against her as part of the plea deal, the prosecutor said.

Pair Plead Guilty In Elaborate Identity Theft Ring - Yahoo! News

ID theft targets woman

2005-12-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

A Cortez woman has become the latest victim in an Internet-based identity theft scam.

The 34-year-old mother of two, who asked that her real name not be published, will be referred to as Sheila Adams. Adams received an e-mail

Nov. 29 that was supposedly from PayPal, an on-line payment processing company that is owned by the popular Internet auction site eBay.

The e-mail, which was addressed “Dear PayPal Member,” informed her that her PayPal account had been violated and that someone with the Internet Protocol address 149.225.126.87 had attempted to access her personal account.

Cortez Journal Online - Cortez Colorado

: Attention, Online Shoppers: Be Wary

2005-12-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

One of the main ways to protect yourself when making online purchases is to be sure you are on a "secure" Web page when entering sensitive information, such as a credit card number. "Don't put in any information that you wouldn't tell a stranger unless you are on a secured site," said Tim Callan of VeriSign Security Services.

E-Commerce News: E-Commerce: Attention, Online Shoppers: Be Wary

Phishers attack eBay using new technique

2005-12-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

Scammers have found a new way to try to trick eBay members into giving them their personal information.

The new technique effectively hijacks links on listing or search results pages, taking people to an official-looking eBay log-in page that is actually phony.

In one example the Mercury News viewed this week, several listings were added to eBay's ``Totally bizarre'' category, a section intended for offbeat items, with the title ``Movie!With me and Laura!My best friend!Sexy show!1$''

MercuryNews.com | 12/10/2005 | Phishers attack eBay using new technique

General, local credit union join to launch campaign against identity theft

2005-12-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

DALEVILLE - The crook was standing in line with a pair of shoes when he learned the credit card had been cancelled.
But that was after he'd taken Jim Mitchell's name out for dinner and purchased two iPods, among other things.

"It's a violating feeling when that happens," Mitchell said.

But Michell isn't the kind of person you'd expect to fall victim to identity theft.

He's the president and CEO of Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union.

That begs the question - If the president and CEO of a bank can have his identity easily stolen, what does that say about your vulnerability?

The Dothan Eagle | General, local credit union join to launch campaign against identity theft

Internet Scam Costs Valley Woman Thousands

2005-12-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

All that ever became of a San Juan woman's get rich quick plan on the Internet is a stack of e-mail and counterfeit checks.

San Juan Police say she fell for a popular scam in an e-mail telling her she was entitled to 15 million dollars from the death of her cousin in France.

"Her story, or the story that was given to her, was about an auto accident and the person getting in contact with her was a lawyer," explained San Juan Police investigator Jose Flores. "And he was trying to seize those funds that were there."

KGBT 4 - TV Harlingen, TX: Internet Scam Costs Valley Woman Thousands

Consumers Warned To Be Wary of Online e-Greeting Cards This Holiday Season

2005-12-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

SpyCop today announced that as the holiday season draws closer, computer users should be very wary of opening Internet e-Greeting Cards without checking to be sure they were sent from someone that they know and trust. The commercial monitoring spyware industry has produced some carefully designed little products that can be easily smuggled into anyone's system while they view such a greeting card message.

Consumers Warned To Be Wary of Online e-Greeting Cards This Holiday Season

Viruses & Malware : Security Firm Reports Malware Threats Jump 48 Percent

2005-12-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

The financially motivated collusion of virus writers, spammers and hackers for criminal gain has developed into an art form in the last year," the report said. "In a continuously evolving threat environment, criminals have joined forces to produce campaigns that coordinate virus, spam, phishing, and spyware attacks, blurring the distinction between them."

E-Commerce News: Viruses & Malware : Security Firm Reports Malware Threats Jump 48 Percent

For Sony, a Pain in the Image

2005-12-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

David Snider's dismay with Sony (SNE ) has been a long time coming. It started when his Sony-branded CD/MP3 player broke down after less than a year of use, and worsened when the company took four months to send a replacement. Snider, 28, says his dissatisfaction escalated recently after the new player began skipping tracks. And then it came to light that Sony BMG Music Entertainment -- in the name of protecting copyrighted material -- embedded CDs with software that installed spyware on users' computers. That was "the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back," says Snider.

For Sony, a Pain in the Image

Carry on spyware

2005-12-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to feel sorry for anyone making a living out of selling keylogging software.

Officially, there are legitimate uses for putting software on a PC in order to monitor how that computer is being used but we can’t think of many.

A parent watching how a child is using the Internet? Companies that want to make sure their staff aren’t skiving when they’re supposed to be working? Perhaps.

Anecdotally, there are few pieces of software more likely to abused than keyloggers, and that’s before you get round to considering the criminal use of keylogging techniques in data theft scams. By their nature, keyloggers attempt to hide on any PC on which they are installed, and that implies a lack of consent from anybody subsequently using that machine.

Techworld.com - Carry on spyware

Phishing for Dollars

2005-12-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

Cybercriminals are coming up with increasingly clever ways to swindle cash. One method, called phishing, involves e-mails that look like they're from reputable outfits such as banks or government agencies. The messages are designed to coax sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and account PINs, that can be used to defraud unsuspecting victims.

Tech Stats from BusinessWeek Online

New form of hacking raises alarms - Technology - International Herald Tribune

2005-12-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

About a year and a half ago, Amnon Jackont, a history professor at Tel Aviv University and a mystery novelist, became ensnared in a mystery of his own: Friends and students were receiving e-mail messages from him that he had never written.

A few months later, unpublished paragraphs and chapters from a book he was writing were plucked from his computer and began appearing on Israeli Web sites

New form of hacking raises alarms - Technology - International Herald Tribune

eBay Fooled by Fast-moving Phishing Scam

2005-12-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes even the targets of phising attacks have difficulty sorting out whether an e-mail or web site is bogus. In other instances, spoof sites remain online long after they are identified as criminal scams.

Both scenarios are found in a story related by an e-mail security researcher, who submitted an obviously fraudulent phishing site to eBay, only to have the auction company's staff e-mail back to insist that the site was legitimate and that the "bait" e-mail was sent by eBay.

Netcraft: eBay Fooled by Fast-moving Phishing Scam

Combating ID Theft | A Corporate Perspective |

2005-12-05T20:35:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of debate about how best to combat the threat of ID theft. Most of the public discussion is focused on consumer protection, and with good reason. ID theft has shaken consumer confidence in electronic commerce.

Although only a fraction of ID theft occurs online, there is a growing misperception that e-commerce is inherently insecure. In addition, the apparent lack of due diligence exercised by ChoicePoint and other so-called "data brokers" has broken the public trust and fostered a belief that businesses do not handle consumer information in a responsible manner.

Combating ID Theft | A Corporate Perspective | December 5, 2005 | Network Computing

A Family Affair: Latest Trend in Identity Theft

2005-12-01T20:27:00.000-08:00

They are too young to know what a line of credit is, but it may already be damaged. The latest victims of identity theft are children and parents are committing the crime.

Xcel Energy says many of its identity theft cases in the Chippewa Valley involve parents who steal their child's name. Some use it to get service reconnected after they fail to make payments. What they may not know is they are ruining their child's line of credit if they fail to keep up with new payments.

A Family Affair: Latest Trend in Identity Theft

Jacksonville Beach man recruited ex-cons for identity-theft scams

2005-12-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

A man who used a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Web site to recruit white-collar criminals for his identity-theft scams was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison.

Misael DelValle sent letters to the ex-convicts listed on site, offering them a chance to make a lot of money and noting how difficult it would be for them to find legitimate work, prosecutors said.

Authorities say more than five ex-convicts went to work for DelValle, whom they knew only as "Ernest," a disembodied voice on a cell phone.

Jacksonville Beach man recruited ex-cons for identity-theft scams

Protect yourself from identity theft

2005-12-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

Preventing identity theft is especially important during the holiday shopping season. A new law goes into effect Thursday that will help.

George Reed knows the pain of identity theft all too well. “Three times on the Internet one time, well, two times on the bank account and three on the Internet so I know it's real.”

It cost him $5000 of his own money to clear it up and that's why he's taking advantage of a mobile shredder.

News 14 Carolina | 24 Hour Local News | STATE GOVERNMENT | Protect yourself from identity theft

Spitzer Gets on Sony BMG's Case

2005-12-01T05:25:00.000-08:00

Sony BMG Music Entertainment is getting a lot of unwanted attention for its use of copyright-protection software that left CD users open to computer viruses. It began with the bloggers, who shed light on the matter, and has spread to the scads of consumers who have used the Internet to urge a boycott of Sony BMG CDs.

A Homeland Security Dept. official has weighed in, accusing Sony BMG of undermining computer security. And Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has alleged, in a suit filed Nov. 21, that Sony BMG violated his state's antispyware laws. Now, the Sony BMG debacle has drawn the scrutiny of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.

Spitzer Gets on Sony BMG's Case

With identity theft growing nationwide, NY legislators propose ways to help curb losses

2005-12-01T05:12:00.000-08:00

Seven years ago, someone stole Denise Curro's wallet, which contained her Social Security card and other identification, when she stopped in North Carolina on the way home from a Florida vacation. Curro, a North Bellmore resident who was 17 at the time, called her mother, Angela, who immediately reported the loss of the Social Security card and other items in the wallet.

A year later, when a collection notice arrived from a utility serving North and South Carolina, the Curros realized that despite their precautions, Denise Curro had become a victim of identity theft. Even after pleading for help to various legal authorities, she still is deluged with demands to pay debts she never ran up, including bills for 48 electric, water and cell phone service accounts in North Carolina. As a result, she has trouble getting loans and credit cards.

Newsday.com: With identity theft growing nationwide, NY legislators propose ways to help curb losses

Scam 'phishes' for bank customers

2005-11-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

Citizens should be on-the-lookout for fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from the Bank of Clarke County.

The Bank of Clarke County was alerted to a phishing scam early Nov. 21 by customers and non-customers who received suspicious e-mails.

Phishing occurs when e-mails falsely claim to be from a legitimate organization or company in an attempt to get personal information from private citizens.
Links in e-mails lead people to professional looking web sites that ask for personal information that will be stolen and used to access private bank accounts, credit card accounts, order merchandise or steal a person's identity.

Fake IRS E-Mail Scam Goes Phishing

2005-11-30T21:58:00.000-08:00

A new phishing attack posing as a tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service is using a configuration problem on the GovBenefits.gov Web site to fool users into thinking they're safe in offering up personal information such as Social Security and credit card numbers.
The fraud begins with an e-mail supposedly from the IRS, which claims the recipient is owed a tax refund. In the message from "taxrefunds@irs.gov," a link is embedded to a site where recipients can supposedly collect the refund.

TechWeb | News | Fake IRS E-Mail Scam Goes Phishing

Thieves May Know Your Every Move Online

2005-11-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Your every move is being watched, tracked and recorded: sitting in front of your computer in an empty room is no longer a private affair as online retailers and even some thieves virtually have their eyes on you.

Every stroke of the keyboard, every click of the mouse could be tracked.

Make no mistake, you are being watched. Nearly every time you enter a Web site, tiny applications are quietly and unknowingly downloaded onto your hard drive.

"Those can be active applications to observe your behavior even after you visited a Web site," said David Zumwalt of Privacy Inc.

Mostly, they are innocent programs designed to track your buying habits, the Web sites you visit, even your likes and dislikes.

Other times, those hidden applications are evil infections.

"What they had done is gone in and stolen my identity, my screen name," spyware victim Brian Truncale said. "And we're sending out advertisements to an x-rated site under my name."
nbc5i.com - Technology - Thieves May Know Your Every Move Online

IDiots? Bank warns against identity theft miscues

2005-11-29T19:42:00.000-08:00

TORONTO (CP) - More than 9,000 people in Canada have had their identities stolen this year, and a new poll indicates 77 per cent of Canadians worry about identity theft but only 10 per cent feel they know what to do about it.

Identity theft occurs when criminals steal and use personal information, such as a social insurance number and date of birth, to assume a person's identity and make purchases or open credit card accounts and other debt lines in the assumed name.

MoneySense.ca: News: Headline News: IDiots? Bank warns against identity theft miscues

Personalized debit cards cut down on identity theft - 2005-11-28

2005-11-29T19:40:00.000-08:00

Debit card use is on the rise. So is identity theft.
To give customers the confidence they need to continue using their cards, Prior Lake State Bank is putting their pictures on them -- for free.

The bank is offering the complimentary photo identification debit cards as a service to its customers, but executives admit the new product is bringing in at least a few new faces, too.

Personalized debit cards cut down on identity theft - 2005-11-28

Spoutin' Off: Sony gives ground on spyware discs

2005-11-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

Our last column (http://dailypress.asoundidea.com/Columns/111405.html) on Sony/BMG's XCP-protected (or infected, depending on your point of view) CDs sparked a firestorm, so we're going to spend another column on Digital Rights Management, or DRM.

First, a quick update: Since the last column, Sony/BMG has eaten crow. It was a little slow on the uptake, but it eventually realized that even if it couldn't understand why, the invasion of personal computers by its software outraged the wired world.

In response, Sony/BMG issued a recall of XCP-protected discs and has promised to replace those purchased with XCP-free products. They also posted a list of CDs released with XCP. It turns out that rather than the 19 titles I mentioned before, there are actually more than 50. The list can be found here: http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html.

In addition, Texas and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have filed suit against Sony/BMG, accusing it of violating various laws governing spyware.

Spoutin' Off: Sony gives ground on spyware discs

Teed Up for '06: Data Breaches, Spyware

2005-11-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

Before leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday, Senate panels approved bills on two data privacy issues that were debated all year—data breach notification and anti-spyware regulation—teeing them up for action next year.

Data breaches have been foremost on the mind of this Congress following the high-profile disclosures from ChoicePoint Inc. and LexisNexis early in the year. The passage of breach notification laws in two dozen states spurred the technology industry to press hard for a federal law pre-empting the states.

Just before the Thanksgiving recess, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary approved in a bipartisan vote the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, authored by Sens. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Teed Up for '06: Data Breaches, Spyware

Stealing Christmas

2005-11-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - Count on it: Identity thieves will be among the hordes filling the malls this holiday shopping season.

Identity fraud cost businesses an estimated $52.6 billion last year. The Fair Credit Billing Act limits liability to $50 per credit card if you notify the bank within 60 days of the first bill containing a fraudulent charge.

"The biggest mistake people make during the holiday season is not streamlining their wallet," says Pam Girardo, a spokeswoman for Capital One Financial (nyse: COF - news - people ) in McLean, Va. "Our advice is to take only the credit card you'll need that day and leave other cards and sensitive information at home."

Stealing Christmas - Forbes.com

Browser developers plot against phishers

2005-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Developers working on four Web browsers met earlier this month to discuss how they can make surfing the Web safer.

The meeting in Toronto included security developers for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Konqueror, according to blog postings by several of the attendees. The meeting focused on combating phishing scams, which use phony Web sites to trick unsuspecting victims into giving up sensitive information.

Attendees talked about different ways of displaying secure and trusted sites in Web browsers and other measures to thwart phishers.

For example, the next version of IE will show the lock icon indicating a secured Web site more prominently: in the address bar instead of the status bar, Microsoft's Rob Franco wrote on the IE blog. Other browsers, including Firefox, already display the lock more visibly.

Browser developers plot against phishers | News.blog | CNET News.com

Cybercrime yields more cash than drugs: expert

2005-11-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

RIYADH (Reuters) - Global cybercrime generated a higher turnover than drug trafficking in 2004 and is set to grow even further with the wider use of technology in developing countries, a top expert said on Monday.

No country is immune from cybercrime, which includes corporate espionage, child pornography, stock manipulation, extortion and piracy, said Valerie McNiven, who advises the U.S. Treasury on cybercrime.

Cybercrime yields more cash than drugs: expert - Yahoo! News

Can You Spot The Phish Attack?

2005-11-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

Knowing the difference between a legitimate e-mail and a scammed phishing e-mail is not always as easy as one would think.

According to data from e-mail security firm MailFrontier, only 4 percent of users can spot a phished e-mail 100 percent of the time. That's a very sobering thought as the holiday season is upon us and Americans flock online for their shopping needs.

MailFrontier's data comes from its Phishing IQ Test, which is comprised of 10 examples of e-mails and users must choose whether they think the mail is legitimate, a fraud or if they have no answer.

Can You Spot The Phish Attack?

IDiots? Bank warns against identity theft miscues

2005-11-28T07:38:00.000-08:00

TORONTO (CP) - More than 9,000 people in Canada have had their identities stolen this year, and a new poll indicates 77 per cent of Canadians worry about identity theft but only 10 per cent feel they know what to do about it.

Identity theft occurs when criminals steal and use personal information, such as a social insurance number and date of birth, to assume a person's identity and make purchases or open credit card accounts and other debt lines in the assumed name.

According to PhoneBusters, the central agency that collects information on identity theft in Canada, there were 9,034 victims of identity theft reported in the first 10 months of this year, with losses totalling $7.2 million.

IDiots? Bank warns against identity theft miscues - Yahoo! News

Protect yourself from being a credit fraud victim

2005-11-22T05:54:00.000-08:00

The package sat there, crammed into my mailbox. I pulled out the two catalogs under it and then pulled it out with a little caution and wonder.

I hadn’t ordered anything. Or at least I couldn’t remember ordering anything. Every so often I receive promotional items in the mail — a sample CD for an Internet company, a trial size of a new headache medicine or other items. Those usually go straight to the trash. But this package was different.

Its return label did not clear up the mystery of its contents — Berkley Pharmaceutical. Nope, didn’t order anything from them.

I decided to open it to see what it was. I would not have if there had been a customer service number on the outside but there was only a return address. I opened the package outside just in case it was not what it appeared to be. I’ve watched too many movies to completely trust anything, even an innocent looking package from an unfamiliar company.

Inside the package were a T-shirt and four bottles of pills. A small sheet of paper welcomed me as a new valued customer. I was still uncertain of what the bottles of pills were for so I read on.

The sheet of paper revealed nothing except a promise of quality from the company.

The Kentucky Standard Online

How a teenager's ID can be stolen

2005-11-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

Some teenagers, navigating the delicate stage between childhood and adulthood, are being taught a life lesson by identity thieves.

``For young consumers -- people who are just entering the financial marketplace -- they really have to learn the skills to protect their own personal identifying information and not let it fall into the wrong hands,'' says Betsy Broder, assistant director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission.

``They need to treat personal information as if it were money in their wallet. That may have even greater impact on your life than the money in your wallet.''

Teenagers may not discover that someone's swiped their identities for years, says Judith Collins, associate professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University and an international expert on identity theft.

``That's why perpetrators like to use teens,'' she says. ``They know they won't be caught, that the theft will go uncovered or the theft will not be detected for months later.''

MercuryNews.com | 11/20/2005 | How a teenager's ID can be stolen

ID Theft Insiders

2005-11-22T05:49:00.000-08:00

SEATTLE - Contrary to what many people think, most private information used for identity theft is not stolen from dumpsters, house burglaries or con artists over the phone.

While thieves are still getting information that way, new research indicates the majority of ID theft cases involve private data stolen on the job by employees.

In this KOMO 4 Consumer investigation, convicted identity thieves who operated in the Puget Sound area, reveal first-hand, the secrets of ID Theft Insiders.

For example:

A state driver's license worker was sentenced this month, for stealing and selling private information.

An HR worker at Starbucks was indicted in April, accused of stealing employee identities and selling them for $150 a pop -- a total of $1.5 million in bank fraud.

A health technician at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance was convicted in August 2004 after pleading guilty to stealing a patient's identification and racking up thousands of dollars of credit card debt in the dying patient's name.

In the course of researching for this report, I found case after case of workers arrested, accused, and often sentenced for stealing personal information of customers, patients or other employees while on the job
komo news | KOMO 4 Special Report: ID Theft Insiders

Curran holds forum on identity theft

2005-11-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

Identity theft, which affects millions of people nationwide, is a very serious problem in Maryland as well, according to state Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., who said he will propose two consumer protection bills when the General Assembly meets next year.

Curran hosted a forum today featuring victims, state officials, attorneys and consumer representatives, discussing the issue of identity theft, which has affected 50 million people across the country in 2005.

Maryland ranks 13th in the country for complaints for identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Curran holds forum on identity theft - baltimoresun.com

Texas sues Sony BMG for spyware violations

2005-11-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a civil lawsuit on Monday against Sony BMG Music Entertainment for hiding "spyware" software on its compact discs in a bid to thwart music copying.
According to the lawsuit filed in Travis County, several of the company's music compact discs require customers to download Sony's media players if they want to listen to the CDs on a computer.

Software included with that media player "remains hidden and active" after installation, the Attorney General's office said, and makes users vulnerable to security risks and possible identity theft.

Texas sues Sony BMG for spyware violations - Yahoo! News

Web Browser Developers Work Together on Security

2005-11-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

Core KDE developer George Staikos recently hosted a meeting of the security developers from the leading web browsers. The aim was to come up with future plans to combat the security risks posed by phishing, ageing encryption ciphers and inconsistent SSL Certificate practise. Read on for George's report of the plans that will become part of KDE 4's Konqueror and future versions of other web browsers.

In the past few years the Internet has seen a rapid growth in phishing attacks. There have been many attempts to mitigate these types of attack, but they rarely get at the root of them problem: fundamental flaws in Internet architecture and browser technology. Throughout this year I had the fortunate opportunity to participate in discussions with members of the Internet Explorer, Mozilla/FireFox, and Opera development teams with the goal of understanding and addressing some of these issues in a co-operative manner.

Web Browser Developers Work Together on Security

Microsoft Adds Anti-Phishing Partners - Yahoo! Australia & NZ News

2005-11-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Corp yesterday said it had signed on three data providers to provide it regular updates on confirmed phishing Web sites to help Microsoft shore up its anti-phishing efforts.

Cyota Inc, Internet Identity and MarkMonitor Inc are the latest companies to provide phishing Web site data for the Microsoft Phishing Filter and SmartScreen Technology services, which aim to help users avoid phishing attacks. The Phishing Filter, for example, is an online warning and protection system for phishing attacks in browsers.

Microsoft Adds Anti-Phishing Partners - Yahoo! Australia & NZ News

Safe from real identity theft

2005-11-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

It wasn't until some hours after my wife had left the park that she realized she'd left her coin purse there - with her driver's license and credit cards inside.
She went back, only to discover that the bag, with the purse and everything else she had taken to the park, was gone. I called the credit card companies immediately to cancel our cards, but we still felt vulnerable. We knew we had to do more.

I was impelled to pray - to think more about our lives as spiritual. I've found that this approach has had a profound effect in many instances.

Safe from real identity theft | csmonitor.com

Quarterly Webroot Report Identifies the Ten Most Significant Emerging Spyware and Adware Threats

2005-11-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing research efforts to inform and protect businesses and consumers from the dangers of spyware, Webroot Software has issued the results of its latest quarterly review of the top 10 most significant spyware and adware threats. The list was published last week in Webroot's State of Spyware report
Two of the spyware threats included on Webroot's list, EliteBar and ISTbar, are currently under intense scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission and other government entities for deceptive and unfair business practices. On November 3rd, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) filed complaints with the US FTC and the Canadian Competition Bureau asking them to investigate Montreal-based software distributor Integrated Search Technologies, the developers and distributors of ISTbar.
Quarterly Webroot Report Identifies the Ten Most Significant Emerging Spyware and Adware Threats: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

FTC Shuts Down Spyware Operation

2005-11-16T20:21:00.001-08:00

An operation that uses the lure of free lyric files, browser upgrades, and ring tones to download spyware and adware on consumers’ computers has been ordered to halt its illegal downloads by a U.S. District Court at the request of the Federal Trade Commission. The court also halted the deceptive downloads of an affiliate who helped spread the malicious software by offering blogs free background music. The music code downloaded by the blogs was bundled with a program that flashed warnings to consumers who visited the blog sites about the security of their computer systems. Consumers who opted to upgrade by clicking, downloaded the spyware onto their computers.

FTC Shuts Down Spyware Operation - W3Reports - Daily Webmaster News

'Anti-spyware tools not yet up to snuff'

2005-11-16T20:21:00.000-08:00

Major security vendors have entered the anti-spyware fray and the products are improving, but the technology to battle spyware and adware is not up to snuff, according to Wes Ames, computing security architect at The Boeing Co.

"I would say that we have reached a midlevel of maturity on adware and spyware, not on the countermeasures, mind you," Ames said in a presentation at the Computer Security Institute conference in Washington.

'Anti-spyware tools not yet up to snuff' | News.blog | CNET News.com

Keyloggers Jump 65% As Info Theft Goes Mainstream

2005-11-16T20:19:00.001-08:00

The number of keyloggers unleashed by hackers exploded this year, soaring by 65 percent in 2005 as e-criminals rush to steal identities and information, a security intelligence firm said Tuesday.
"The overall number of keyloggers has just skyrocketed this year," said Ken Dunham, senior engineer with Reston, Va.-based VeriSign iDefense. "It's all part of the last year's, 18 months' change in motive toward crimeware."

TechWeb | Security | Keyloggers Jump 65% As Info Theft Goes Mainstream

Is it 'lights out' for e-mail?

2005-11-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

In the world of IT, e-mail is treated a lot like electricity. We want it to work and not have to worry.

But e-mail's functionality has been devalued by unrelenting abuse in the form of spam, viruses and phishing. We've even reached the point where one must ask whether fed-up users are ready to declare "lights out" on e-mail.

When scammers first began to proliferate on the Internet, e-mail users were often tricked by fraudulent e-mail. The infamous PayPal and Citibank spoofs, among others, shook up the online world. However, we are now seeing a reversal: E-mail users are increasingly citing "good" e-mails as fraudulent, indicating that they are even more skeptical about legitimate e-mail.

Is it 'lights out' for e-mail? | Perspectives | CNET News.com

Phishing scams hit ASU campus

2005-11-16T20:18:00.000-08:00

Internet phishing, a form of identity fraud, has recently occurred around the Appalachian State University campus.

E-mails resembling those from companies such as eBay, Wells-Fargo and select banks are capable of transmission through AppalNET accounts.

When a person opens the e-mail message, there is a notice that an account needs updating or identity verification; sometimes the message opens directly to the false site.

Links to the false site, which appear convincing, can lead Internet users into submitting private information to individuals or companies with intentions of stealing an identity.

“Basically they disguise themselves to look like another company, a legitimate company, they try to fool you into giving them your information by filling out forms,” University Police Sgt. Jeremy B. Jones said.

The Appalachian Online - Phishing scams hit ASU campus

Police offer shredder

2005-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

The Hood River City Police Department is willing to shred personal documents for residents who want to avoid identity theft.

From Nov. 23 to Dec. 23, the law enforcement agency will make its regular shredding service available to citizens. Police Chief Bruce Ludwig has ordered an extra locked bin to handle the added volume of papers.

He said the contents of that bin will be destroyed in a secure operation at the end of December in concert with old police records.

Hood River News

Hood River News

2005-11-16T20:16:00.000-08:00

By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
November 16, 2005

One in every 20 persons is now the victim of identity theft – and that number is expected to rise dramatically within the next five years.

“Never believe that you can’t be a victim because your information is out there and has been for decades,” said Ed Hewitt of American Criminal Investigators Network.

Detective Hewitt, a nationally known speaker and expert on identity theft, briefed 55 Hood River County law enforcement officials and community members on the growing problem last week. He also made recommendations during the two-hour forum about how citizens could avoid being targeted. Hewitt’s presentation at the Hood River Inn was arranged by A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., of Portland.

Hood River News

Fear of Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud Worry Consumers During the 2005 Holiday Season, According to IBM Survey:

2005-11-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

Consumers Desire Protection From Advanced Technologies to Keep Personal Information Secure

SOMERS, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Nov 16, 2005 -- Shoppers are concerned that their personal information is at risk of being stolen when they hit the stores -- physically or virtually -- this holiday season, according to an IBM survey of consumers. As a result, these shoppers say they plan to shop differently, more conservatively and possibly even spend less.

According to the survey of 1,000 American consumers, one out of every seven Americans (14%) has had their personal and/or credit card information stolen, with one in ten victims experiencing theft during a holiday season. Of those victimized, nearly 20 percent of those victims say they plan to shop less online this holiday season
Fear of Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud Worry Consumers During the 2005 Holiday Season, According to IBM Survey: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Why identity management and strong authent

2005-11-16T20:13:00.001-08:00

There surely is a paradox here: Which! Magazine reported back in March of this year that one in four adults in the UK has either been the victim of identity theft, or knows someone who has. In the US, identity theft is said to be the fastest growing crime. But more and more of us are going online. And every service that we access or transaction that we make electronically has clues to our identities attached to the service requests. This makes it a heyday for thieves, who are coming up with innovative new schemes to fraudulently rob us of our identities.

IT-Analysis.com - Why identity management and strong authent

Alarming identity theft statistics may be hyped

2005-11-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

A closer look at surveys show that identity theft is too broadly defined and often misunderstood.

BY BRIAN BERGSTEIN

Associated Press
BOSTON - If some of the numbers being cited about identity theft are to be believed, it's just a matter of time before some unseen cyberhustler steals your name, empties your bank account and wrecks your financial reputation. You can almost hear the maniacal laughter.

By some measures, one in five Americans has been hit. Another common statistic is that 10 million people fall victim every year.

Herald.com | 11/14/2005 | Alarming identity theft statistics may be hyped