|
NCSD - (National Cyber Security Division) A department of Homeland Security NCSD protects the nations internet infrastructure. While internet identity theft comes in many forms - viruses, trojans, worms, data breaches ,internet phishing etc. NCSD is the place report any of these and other internet identity theft attempts, either successful or unsuccessful. NCSD sends out regular cyber alerts and tips, and posts information about vulnerabilities in computer systems, hardware and software. If your identity is stolen on the Internet this is who to call, as well as who to report internet phishing to.
Office of Justice Programs - Also known as U.S. Department of Justice, is a federal program to increase knowledge about crime and related issues, and assist crime victims. This link is to their identity theft information and links.
Opt-Out of Credit Offer, Opt Out of junk mail. When you call this Opt Out number or sign up for the opt out of credit offers on line, you wouldn’t stop all credit offers, but you will eliminate most credit offers, junk mail, and insurance offers. And thus reduce your chance of someone taking this information, applying for new credit in your name, and thus reducing your chances for your identity being stolen. The Opt Out of credit offer Phone Number is: 1-888-5OPT-OUT or 1-888-567-8688, or you can visit opt out prescreen.com/. This opt out will only remove your name from credit offers for five years. If you call the opt out credit phone number and still receive offers, contact the companies directly to opt out.
If you have your identity stolen, or loose your checkbook, remove the overdraft protection on your bank checking account to prevent a thief from tapping into that amount of money in addition to the money in your checking account. Use your discretion on this. Many banks will charge against your overdraft protection, as bad checks come in that were written by the thieves. Then when you dispute the overdraft protection funds paid out, they may argue the overdraft fees. You then have to back track each charge to make sure it was re-credited. Many banks and creditors claim a loss when your identity is stolen. The reality is most business’s that accepted the bad card or check get charged for the the check amount, plus back charge fees. The banks claim a loss on their taxes, which is mostly the fees they charged you, and then credited back to you when you told them that your identity was stolen. (See reports 9 & 12). If there is no overdraft protection in place, most banks credit back all the charges while your identity was stolen and open a new account.
|
