Jay McDonald from Creditcards.com does a great job of summarizing Identity Theft Predictions for 2010.
“Like wolves to injured prey, identity thieves are out to turn the recession struggles of average Americans to their own advantage.
“In my adult life, I’ve never seen more varations of old scams and the degree of sophistication in newer scams,” says Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com.
The Identity Theft Resource Center predicts an increase in the number of identity theft crimes and victims during the next two years.
Particularly vulnerable are jobseekers whose desperate search for employment makes them easy targets for fake job listings and work-from-home scams.
“If the job description is not one that you would see printed on a business card, or you are asked to front money, it’s a scam,” says Siciliano.
Also on the rise are the misuse of social media and phony ads on Craigslist and other Web sites for the purposes of obtaining credit card numbers or cash.
Most disturbing has been the growing problem of child identity theft, sometimes by the child’s own family.
“The ITRC has noted that nearly 10 percent of its case load for the past six months involved child identity theft issues,” says founder Linda Foley. “It’s as if people have finally realized that a child’s Social Security number can be used for more than just opening a line of credit.”
Visit the ITRC Web site to learn how to protect your personal data from thieves and hackers.”
Protect your identity. Go to ConsumersUnion.org and follow the steps for your particular state. This is an absolutely necessary tool to secure your credit. In most cases, it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. This makes your Social Security number useless to a potential identity thief.
Invest in Intelius identity theft protection and prevention. Not all forms of identity theft protection can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk. (Disclosures)
Robert Siciliano identity theft speaker discussing credit card fraud on CNBC
About the Author
ROBERT SICILIANO, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com is fiercely committed to informing, educating, and empowering Americans so they can be protected from violence and crime in the physical and virtual worlds. His "tell it like it is" style is sought after by major media outlets, executives in the C-Suite of leading corporations, meeting planners, and community leaders to get the straight talk they need to stay safe in a world in which physical and virtual crime is commonplace. Siciliano is accessible, real, professional, and ready to weigh in and comment at a moment's notice on breaking news.
Similar Posts
- Child Identity Theft
Child identity theft is a growing problem. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that there are 500,000 new victims every year. The culprits are often parents or others who have direct access to the child’s Social Security number. (In my own experience, I’ve had to give out my children’s Social Security numbers to hospitals, insurers, and
- Identity Theft 2010 Top 10 Predictions
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
I’ve joined forces with the Identity Theft Resource Center to expand the pool of knowledge about identity theft issues. As nationally recognized experts in this crime, we have come up with ten predictions for what the nation can expect in the area of identity theft in 2010 and beyond.
1. More Scams:
- Child Identity Theft Victims
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
Jason Truxel was denied a mortgage because of bad credit. He had no idea that his credit scores were low, so he pulled his credit reports. He discovered a tremendous amount of debt, and accounts he had never opened. One such account showed that a credit card had been opened in
- Child Identity Theft Protection
Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Expert
In a blog I guest contribute to called “NextAdvisor” they offer the following advice on child identity theft protection:
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question.
“Q: I found out that someone used my grandson’s Social Security number to get phone service. How can I stop
- School Officials Warn of Identity Theft
In a small Maine town, local school officials buck state requirements and tell parents not to give out their child’s Social Security number.
The Bangor Daily reports “School departments across the state are required by a new state law to collect students’ Social Security numbers for all enrolled this fall. Parents, however, should know that they
Leave a Comment