About.com

Better to Change When it's Needed...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:11:39 +0000

I know we all fear change, but sometimes it's necessary to make sure we are covering all the bases. One of the center pieces on this site is the "Must Read" section, up in the top left corner. This is where your Guide can point to the most essential information that he feels every reader should know, if they don't read any of his other articles (but let's just be real here, I know how many of you are reading the stuff I post, and it makes me kinda proud to know so many of you are so devoted.)

In any event, having dug around over the past couple of years, I have finally admitted that there is another type of identity theft that hasn't been properly addressed - insurance identity theft. Mind you, although I need to call it a "new" type of identity theft, the only thing that's really new here is addressing the issue appropriately. Up to now, I've been trying to cover the issues under other topics (like medical or financial identity theft,) but it has gotten too confusing to look in different places to find the information my readers need.

So, my apologies for changing things up on you, and I promise I'll do it only when needed. But in this case, the change is needed, to make things easier for you to find the information you need, and if I didn't do that, I wouldn't really be doing my job, now, would I?

Government Says Protecting Privacy Makes You A Terrorist

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:58:12 +0000

Ah, I long for the simpler days. You know, when I could shield my phone screen from shoulder surfers and it didn't make me a terrorist? But things have gotten more complicated, and the war on terror has started to look more like a good old-fashioned Salem witch hunt than anything resembling protection.

Honestly, I can't say how much longer I'll be able to write these articles, though. Just voicing the discontent about the government is enough to get me labeled a potential terrorist, and with the latest NDAA in effect, I'm expecting a batallion of highly-trained marines to come crashing in and haul me away.

Until that happens, though, it's only fair for me to tell you that following some of my advice (like using cash instead of cards, using file encryption on your computer, etc.) may earn you some unwanted attention from authorities. As for me, I will continue to zealously protect my identity, but now that means additional concerns.

Identity Theft and Your Insurance

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:09:07 +0000

The much-anticipated changes on the identity theft pages of About.com start here. The "new" type of identity theft, insurance identity theft, represents specific areas in life that other forms of identity theft may trickle into - or in many instances, burst upon the scene like a crashing river through a breaking dam.

While we look to our insurance policies to protect us from the unexpected, identity theft has overall been glossed over by the industry. Although a few insurance agencies will offer some sort of identity theft protection, for the most part the industry has ignored the issue, leaving their clients to fend for themselves. The few that do offer some sort of program to address identity theft provide something of little or no value when the rubber meets the road, leaving clients high and dry.

Hopefully, 2012 will be the year insurance companies realize the direct impact identity theft can not only have on their clients, but also on their bottom line. After all, if they can offer you a policy, but choose not to because someone else's information has been mixed up with yours, that doesn't just leave you hanging in the wind, it takes money out of their pockets.

A Change in the Wind

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:07:57 +0000

Once in a great while, something happens that changes the way we look at things in a dramatic way. That doesn't always mean what we're looking at has changed, but sometimes seeing things in a new light can certainly make it seem that way. This has been the case with insurance identity theft.

As your guide, I try to keep the message consistent and build on what has already been written. This makes it easier for you to find information on my site. So when I need to make a change that will have such a sweeping impact on how we think about identity theft, I like to take a minute and explain why the change is necessary.

Keep in mind, though, that the change that's coming to the identity theft pages on About.com doesn't mean there are new risks out there to worry about. The change I'm making has more to do with addressing the issues properly, and helping ensure that you can look at the problems involved with identity theft accurately, and know precisely what's at stake.

World War III Facebook Scam

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:40:10 +0000

With the Super Bowl over, we're all turning back to our everyday lives with renewed vigor. But wait... what's this we see on Facebook?! We've attacked Iran... and Saudi Arabia?!

Don't click the video. This past weekend Facebook saw this malware go viral, hitting 60,000 users in about 3 hours. The supposed "video" pops up a screen telling you to update your Adobe player. When you do, though, you are actually installing the malware instead. (This one is an annoyance that tells you there is a trojan/virus on your computer, and for a fee they will uninstall it.)

Facebook says they are cleaning this one up, but do not be surprised if you see more of this type of thing on Facebook.

2012 seems to be shaping up as yet another year phishers and scammers, hackers and spammers are getting more adept at using the internet to find their victims.

New Phishing Tool - Your Local Police

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:22:49 +0000

The latest tool in phishing scams is... the police.

Yeah, you read it right. Apparently, in an effort to intimidate potential identity theft victims, the latest versions of telephone phishing has someone calling you to say you've won some sort of lottery you didn't enter, and wanting you to provide financial information to pay the taxes on your winnings. Nothing new there. But if the intended victim shows reluctance, the scammer threatens to contact local police, because "...not paying the taxes on your winnings is a crime." They will then call your local police department and request they do a "safety check". When the police show up on the intended victim's doorstep, they get scared, and (supposedly) will be more "helpful" when the scammer calls back.

This doesn't bode well, because it could be highly effective. If someone is unaware of the scam process, it could have that exact effect, and more people will fall prey to these scams.

My Rule #1 in phishing safety: never give out financial information on the telephone if YOU did not originate the call.

(Rule #2 is "Nobody wins a lottery they did not enter.")

The "Mark of the Beast" and Medical Identity Theft

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:51:45 +0000

Wow. I really hate it when I make a connection like this, because I have to stray into some pretty deep waters. But with what little I know about the Bible, I have to say there's going to be a lot of outcry in the coming years. While medical identity theft will continue to grow, the big solution proposed by President Obama's healthcare reform law sounds like something straight out of the Book of Revelation.

A microchip implanted in everyone to follow their medical (and financial) life.

It doesn't take a theological scholar to see the close parallel between this concept, and the "Mark of the Beast" as outlined by St John on the Isle of Patmos (where the Book of Revelation is said to have been written.) Sure, you have to polish it up a bit to account for technology we have today that John wouldn't have begun to be able to conceive. But the parallel is so glaringly obvious that... well... I had to at least say something.

I welcome anyone who knows more about the Bible or this technology to send me feedback. Like I said, I don't claim to be a theological expert, but this seems pretty plain to me. Correct me if I'm wrong.

CIPA - Schools, Libraries, the Internet and Your Kids

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:26:42 +0000

A friend pointed this law out to me recently, having to do with schools, libraries, and filtering the internet for our kids. Naturally, that sort of thing is right up my alley, so I started doing some research, finding out some of the details.

The law is called the Children's Online Protection Act, or CIPA (pronounces sip'-uh) and is designed to protect our kids from online predators. But this one actually gives the local libraries and school boards the power to determine what else may be considered "harmful to children." This means responsible parents can actually have an impact on what their children can access at school and the library.

Of course, there are religious fanatics and ultra-conservative that have already tried to use the law to censor constitutionally protected freedom of speech from making it to their kids' computer desktops, but there is still a strong patriotic element throughout the country that is interested in a healthy balance between the extremist right, and protecting our kids from online predators.

I have to say, this law is primarily focused on protecting kids from pornography, which is really designed for adults anyway. But anything that is intended to help protect our kids has to be seen as a good thing in general - which may have something to do with why the government is using that as a mask for some of the ultra-restrictive legislation running through the house and senate.

These are, indeed, difficult times, and it will take discernment and community involvement to bring an appropriate balance of liberty and protection to the table.

President: Court Case is a Waste of My Time

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:08:18 +0000

Is our president an identity thief?

Oh, c'mon. You had to know I wasn't going to let his whole term go by without doing a piece on this, right? I've kept an eye on developments and done my research. Here's what I can tell you for certain:

I dunno.

There's a lot of disinformation on both sides of the fence, and conspiracy theories by nature are hard to disprove - that's part of what makes them so popular with the fringe groups. But it's a mistake to judge a theory by the person who tells you about it - just read Hogg's Instructor to get an example of the problem that can cause you.

The long and the short of it is this: there's a judge in Georgia right now who is waiting for the President to come respond to the complaint - but so far, he hasn't held the President in contempt for failing to do so. In fact, the Presidential response has been "that's too silly to even waste my time with."

I'm thinking I'll use that with the court the next time I get a parking or speeding ticket.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Phishing Scams and Tax Time - Yup, it's Here Again!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:49 +0000

Tax time is rolling around, again. Yeah, I'm just as disgusted as you are, but what can we do? Despite the fact that there are arguments against it, we pay, or we get free room and board, courtesy of the taxpayers. (hey, wait a second.... *grins*)

Seriously, though, with taxes rolling around, we always see a fresh spate of phishing scams in our email. Everything from notes purported to be from the IRS telling us our filings are inaccurate, and we have a refund coming, to threats of prosecution if we don't call (*insert number here*) within the next 72 hours to "correct the problem."

Don't fall for it. Seriously. Last year I talked with a gal at the IRS who refused to be quoted, but told me "Oh, my God, you don't even know how bad it is." (Well, with a quote like that, you can understand why she didn't want to be on the record... this lady WORKS at the IRS.)

You'll be hearing more from me concerning this as the year wears on, but keep your taxes safe, and keep in mind that the IRS never notifies you of problems by email.