Scam Alert: Expect an upsurge in identity theft as the economy weakens

A new report out this week highlights the danger of identity theft - for all of us. The number of identity theft cases increased 22 percent in 2008, affecting nearly 10 million Americans.

Javelin Strategy and Research has been conducting the identity-theft study for the past five years. The most recent statistics show people are doing a better job detecting and responding to fraud more quickly.

Identity theft cost the victim about $496 per incident - down from $718, a 31 percent drop, from a year earlier. Don't brush that number off. According to the study, the identity thief is making off with nearly $5,000 per case. So, follow my train of thought: There's quite a difference between the direct cash out of the victim's pocket and what the thief is stealing. The banks, credit card companies and businesses are making up the difference and must pass that cost on to all of us. The money comes from somewhere, which makes each and every one of us a victim of identity theft, because we're all sharing in the cost.

I could pass on number after number, but I prefer to focus on what we can learn. If you take nothing away from reading the following words, I most want you to grasp the importance of taking opportunity away from the identity thief.

LESSON ONE: IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET WORSE

The economy is a big reason for the increase in identity-theft cases. Since we're not going to snap out of the current economic challenges overnight, expect to see more attempts to steal your personal information.

LESSON TWO: VIGILANCE MEANS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER

The fraudsters are moving faster. The bad guys and girls are more sophisticated and are putting technology to work. Review your bank and credit card statements looking for the slightest irregularities. Be sure to check your credit reports annually. Shred paper that has identifying information.

LESSON THREE: GENDER MATTERS

This year's Javelin Strategy and Research identity fraud report found that women were 26 percent more likely to be victims of identity fraud than men. Why? Fraud attacks involving women occur more often via in-person channels, such as stores and restaurants, where there is less consumer control. There is a greater percentage of women making in-person purchases, and women were almost three times more likely than men to report their information stolen during an in-person purchase.

LESSON FOUR: LOCK IT UP AND KEEP CLOSE WATCH

Lost or stolen wallets, checkbooks and credit cards are still the most likely sources of identity theft. Online access accounted for only 11 percent of the total fraud.

Don't be scared of identity theft. But don't think it can never happen to you. Be vigilant and protect your identity.

Scam Email / Fake: Notice From Department of the Treasury

Scam Email / Fake: Notice From Department of the Treasury, received today 5/16. Senior are especially vulnerable to IRS scams.

There are so many things wrong with this email to make it obvious that it is a scam, the first one is that the IRS does not email you regarding a refund or claims, you will be contacted by a letter.

Also a 501(c) (3) is not a "refundable issue" but a charity non-profit category for a business / company. You don't get a refund under any section of501(c) (3)

Other obvious facts..

1. Bad Spelling (he maner of section; and the realtionship) to name only two.
2. The fact the email was sent from "thecollegehotel.com" in Amsterdam Holland
3. That the link (removed) takes you to a website called "indopreneur" with a copy of the IRS site. This site is very dangerous as it asks for your SS# as well as Credit Card Number and CVV and your PIN Code. Can red flags be any redder?
4. There is a 4 and a 5 and 6 but why bother, this is enough, totally clear… what a fake!

--- scam email below--- links removed ----

After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity
we have determined that you are eligible to receive
a tax refund under section 501(c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Tax refund value is $189.60.
Please submit the tax refund request and allow us 6-9 days
in order to IWP the data received.
If u don't receive your refund within 9 business
days from the original IRS mailing date shown,
you can start a refund trace online.

If you distribute funds to other organization, your records must show wether
they are exempt under section 497 (c) (15). In cases where the recipient org.
is not exempt under section 497 (c) (15), you must have evidence the funds will
be used for section 497 (c) (15) purposes.

If you distribute fund to individuals, you should keep case histories showing
the recipient's name and address; the purpose of the award; the maner of
section; and the realtionship of the recipient to any of your officers, directors,
trustees, members, or major contributors.

To access the form for your tax refund, please (click here removed)

This notification has been sent by the Internal Revenue Service,
a bureau of the Department of the Treasury.

Sincerely Yours,

John Stewart
Director, Exempt. Organization
Rulings and Agreements Letter
Internal Revenue Service

Gartner Group Reports: Phishing Attacks 2007, Over $3 Billion Lost

Phishing attacks in the United States soared in 2007 as $3.2 billion was lost to these attacks, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. The survey found that 3.6 million adults lost money in phishing attacks in the 12 months ending in August 2007, as compared with the 2.3 million who did so the year before.

According to a survey of more than 4,500 online U.S. adults in August 2007 (which was representative of the online U.S. adult population) the attacks were more successful in 2007 than they were in the previous two years. Of consumers who received phishing e-mails in 2007, 3.3 percent say they lost money because of the attack, compared with 2.3 percent who lost money in 2006, and 2.9 percent who did so in 2005, according to similar Gartner surveys during those years.

The average dollar loss per incident declined to $886 from $1,244 lost on average in 2006 (with a median loss of $200 in 2007), but because there were more victims, $3.2 billion was lost to phishing in 2007, according to surveyed consumers. There was a bit of relative good news, however; the amounts that consumers were able to recover also increased. Some 1.6 million adults recovered about 64 percent of their losses in 2007, up from the 54 percent that 1.5 million adults recovered in 2006.

PayPal and eBay continue to be the most-spoofed brands, but phishing attacks increasingly employ devious social engineering attacks, impersonating, for example, electronic greeting cards, charities and foreign businesses.

Thieves are increasingly stealing debit card and other bank account credentials to rob accounts — targeting areas where fraud detection is weaker than it is with credit card accounts. According to the survey, of those consumers who lost money to phishing attacks, 47 percent said a debit or check card had been the payment method used when they lost money or had unauthorized charges made on their accounts. This was followed by 32 percent of respondents who listed a credit card as the payment method, and 24 percent who listed a bank account as the method (multiple responses were allowed).

Phishing and malware attacks will continue to increase through 2009 because it's still a lucrative business for the perpetrators, and advertising networks will be used to deliver up to 30 percent of malware that lands on consumer desktops.

Gartner sees no easy way out of this dilemma unless e-mail providers have incentives to invest in solutions to keep phishing e-mails from reaching consumers in the first place, and unless advertising networks and other "infection point" providers (which theoretically can be any legitimate Web site or service) have incentives to keep malware from being planted on their Web sites to reach unsuspecting consumers.

Hartford Man Faces Multiple Identity Theft Charges

WINDSOR LOCKS - A 47-year-old Hartford man has been arrested on several identity theft charges following a month-long investigation into fraudulent credit card charges, police said.

Ronald Bonner was arrested at his home at about 6:30 a.m. today and charged with first-degree identity theft, two counts of second-degree identity theft, five counts of third-degree identity theft, fourth-degree larceny, four counts of credit card theft, two counts of criminal attempt to commit credit card theft, criminal attempt to commit identity theft and illegal use of a credit card, police said.

Police were informed about a month ago that several people's identifications had been stolen and someone was using stolen credit cards to purchase items and have them delivered to a Windsor Locks address, Police Chief John Suchocki said. Police traced the fraudulent charges to Bonner, he said.

Suchocki said an investigation into how much Bonner stole is ongoing and could result in additional charges.

http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hcu-identitytheft-0227,0,7885355.story

By LYNN DOAN | Courant Staff Writer

Arrest Made In Identity Theft Case

A 24-year-old Arizona woman has been arrested and accused of stealing a purse from a parked car at a daycare center, burglarizing the victim's home, and opening accounts in the victim's name.

Alyssa Landman had been on the Phoenix Police Department's Top 10 list for identity theft. She was booked on charges of one count of identify theft, one count of theft and two outstanding felony warrants.After the victim's purse was stolen from her car last October, a string of identify theft-related crimes tormented the woman for over a month in three separate cities.

Information that was obtained from her purse provided the perpetrator with the means to burglarize the victim's home, open bank accounts in the her name and cash savings bonds.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.kpho.com/news/15384479/detail.html