ID Theft, Protection, And Restoration

Do you think that Identity Theft can happen in your workplace?

There’s always someone at the office who is a real PITA; you don’t trust them any farther than you can throw them.  Do you think that person might have access to your personal identifying information like your social security number and home address?  That would make your skin crawl due to the fact that not only do they know where you live, but they have access to take your vital info.  They can sell it or pass it along to someone else who could commit identity theft crimes against you — and that’s a fact!!

So Bob and I are taking the bull by the horns.  New legislation was passed that requires all employers, no matter how big or small, to be proactive in educating their employees and putting measures in place so your personal identifying information is protected from prying eyes that have no right to ever see that data.  However, the legislation meant to protect you was to be in place by November 1, 2008, today, but has been delayed until May of next year, like for banks.  Hmn.

In any event, Bob (my silent partner for the moment) has come up with a plan to help companies lock down their information.  However, we can’t cover every company in the US, but we do have the info available to help your company tighten up their security  in regard to your personal identifying information and protect you against identity theft by fellow employees.

If you work in an office where you think measures should be tightened up, tell us about it.

Your Identity Doc,

Nancy Dewitz is co-founder of BTR-Security with personal Identity Theft solutions tailored to consumers’ specific needs. She and her partner Robert Listerman are authors of the ebook “The Many Faces of Identity Theft.” They are consumer advocates and creators of individualized Identity Protection programs that give you and your family the options needed to keep your life intact.

If you have an Identity Theft story or experience that you’d like to share and become part of our upcoming book, please let us know. We’d love to hear all about it.

When you go online, do you think you’re as safe as a baby in Mom’s arms?  We like to think we’re safe because we have our own special programs and believe nothing can hack through our firewalls, anti-virus or anti-spyware because we use brand name programs hoping for the best. I’m not here to arm wrestle with you over this.

I’m talking about something totally different, online log-in management.  If you shop online, pay bills online, have a home business, you might want to reconsider how you protect your log-in URLs, user names and passwords for the sites you visit.  Keeping track of all log-information is a nightmare for most people.  Keeping this information in your Internet browser, like I used to, was very convenient.  However,  that sensitive information in your browser is the first place hackers, spyware, and viruses look to do the most damage, i.e. identity theft.  What’s a person to do?

Six months ago I found a free software program that manages all my log-in information.  It remembers all your site URLs, your user names and passwords and encrypts that info before it goes over the net to log you in.  With two clicks, you’re logged in.  No muss, no fuss.

I’ve tested and retested it.  It works.  The info backs up to a CD or a little pocket-sized USB device.  That is really cool because when you travel, you can plug your little pocket device into someone else’s computer USB hub and do your online business without trying to remember web site info and log-in information.  Best of all, you can even prevent your children from getting into your information and accidentally wiping it out.  Have a look at this.

YourIndentityDoc,

Nancy Dewitz is co-founder of BTR-Security with personal Identity
Theft solutions tailored to consumers’ specific needs. She and her
partner Robert Listerman are authors of the ebook “The Many Faces of
Identity Theft.” They are consumer advocates and creators of
individualized Identity Protection programs that give you and your
family the options needed to keep your life intact.

If you have an Identity Theft story or experience that you’d like
to share and become part of our upcoming book, please let us know. We’d
love to hear all about it.

Picture this. You’re driving down the road and you get a text message on your cell phone. You read it and see a message that your bank account has been closed due to suspicious activity.

You panic. This can’t be. The message says to call a certain phone number immediately to reactivate your account. When you call the number, you receive an automated voice mail box that prompts you to enter your credit card number, expiration date and PIN to verify your information.

So you got a two for one, phishing and vishing on your cell phone through text messaging. Honestly, cyber criminals are getting more sophisticated every single day and no wonder Identity Theft is on the move.

So be on your guard, and Do Not Reply. Call your banking institution directly regarding the message or better yet, stop by and see them. You’ll be glad you did.

TheIdentityDoc,

Nancy Dewitz is co-founder of BTR-Security with personal Identity Theft solutions tailored to consumers’ specific needs. She and her partner Robert Listerman are authors of the ebook “The Many Faces of Identity Theft.” They are consumer advocates and creators of individualized Identity Protection programs that give you and your family the options needed to keep your life intact.

If you have an Identity Theft story or experience that you’d like to share and become part of our upcoming book, please let us know. We’d love to hear all about it.

Here’s the deal. You get an email from your bank or your credit card company. It tells you “Do Not Reply” to this address. Do we listen? Do we even see what the reply address is?

Well, according to a story I just read, there are lots of people who do not understand nor do they read the entire email that says, “Don’t hit the Reply key, and go head and compose their email. They don’t understand they should not be giving out their account number, or any other confidential information at all in any email at any time. However, some people still do.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch in Seattle where a gentlemen owns the domain name, DoNotReply.com, he gets all sorts of email sent to him from people hitting the Reply key on their email. He receives way too many emails with personal information. Fortunately, he’s a person of integrity.

However, not everyone you email to is an upstanding person who will just delete your email and not want your information. So if you get a communication from any financial institution, insurance company, bank, credit card company, know that you will have a secure place to log in and send emails on the company’s web site. Do not send them a “regular email.”

The Identity Doc,

Nancy Dewitz is co-founder of BTR-Security with personal Identity Theft solutions tailored to consumers’ specific needs. She and her partner Robert Listerman are authors of the ebook “The Many Faces of Identity Theft.” They are consumer advocates and creators of individualized Identity Protection programs that give you and your family the options needed to keep your life intact.

If you have an Identity Theft story or experience that you’d like to share and become part of our upcoming book, please let us know. We’d love to hear all about it.