tagged w/ Identity Theft
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Cybercriminals may be "spear phishing" your Facebook or Twitter account. A gorgeous PowerPoint attachment may harbor a malicious program. Women are more vulnerable to online security breaches, so here are a few words from the Web-wise.Cybercriminals may be "spear phishing" your Facebook or Twitter account. A... more
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While the digital world has brought us many conveniences, it has also opened us up to a whole new world of threats. Identity Theft Security Expert, Chuck Whitlock, shares steps to keep you protected. For more information, visit ProtectMyID.com.While the digital world has brought us many conveniences, it has also opened us up to... more
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Even if you're careful about what details you reveal online, other cues -- including who you are connected to or the specific words you use -- can reveal information about you with a startling degree of accuracy.
How can you maintain your privacy in an age where technology can reveal so much about you?Even if you're careful about what details you reveal online, other cues --... more
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About a month ago (July 22nd), CNN reported that the DMV in the state of Florida is selling private data to companies for a fee. Last year Florida took in $63 million dollars from this program.About a month ago (July 22nd), CNN reported that the DMV in the state of Florida is... more
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Hackers might have accessed up to 25,000 e-mail addresses and 350 résumés during an attack on game developer Eidos Interactive’s websites, parent company Square Enix said Friday.
The security breach, which Square Enix said occurred Wednesday, could have given hackers access to user data for the Deus Ex: Human Revolution website, as well as résumés submitted by job applicants to Eidos.
“Square Enix can confirm a group of hackers gained access to parts of our Eidosmontreal.com website as well as two of our product sites,” the company told Joystiq. “We immediately took the sites offline to assess how this had happened and what had been accessed, then took further measures to increase the security of these and all of our websites, before allowing the sites to go live again.”
Square Enix added that it would be contacting all parties that might have been affected by the breach, emphasizing that no credit card information was compromised.
According to a report by former Washington Post writer Brian Krebs, the official Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Eidos websites were inaccessible Thursday morning. During this period, hackers reportedly put up a banner that read “Owned by Chippy1337.”
The hackers, Krebs wrote, said they plan to distribute the stolen information on file sharing networks. His report pegs the volume of information stolen, according to the hackers, to be the personal information of more than 80,000 users and 9,000 ésumés.
A recent Ars Technica report suggests there might be discord among members of hacking collective Anonymous, centering on a 17-year-old British hacker named Ryan. According to a chat log uncovered by Krebs, the Eidos hackers attempted to frame Ryan for the attack.
It’s unclear whether this is related to the crippling hack on Sony’s PlayStation Network several weeks ago that left millions of users’ personal information at risk. Anonymous has disavowed responsibility for that attack.
Neither Square Enix nor Eidos Interactive responded to Wired.com’s requests for comment Friday.Hackers might have accessed up to 25,000 e-mail addresses and 350... more
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As one who keeps up with the cutting edge of search engines and advanced search querying, it is with much reservation and disbelief that I bring you the results of my latest online investigative research. As of 4/10/2011, I have discovered in excess of 50 tax documents containing any given combination of Social Security numbers, credit card information, names, addresses, tax IDs, and phone numbers being made available online. However, unlike recent leaks of email addresses and password hashes being made available due to hackers compromising systems, these documents are being unknowingly made freely available to prying eyes by the very owners of said information.
Sounds unbelievable, right? It gets worse.
Full Story: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/seo/beware-social-security-numbers-available-online-via-indexed-tax-documents/2819?tag=nl.e539As one who keeps up with the cutting edge of search engines and advanced search... more
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A Montgomery Police Department officer was indicted on federal wire fraud and identity theft charges, according to a statement released Friday from U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary.
The indictment identifies Bradley Howard Pemberton, 41, a MPD sergeant. It alleges that through his position he was authorized to access the Law Enforcement Tactical System, which is maintained by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. LETS provides law enforcement personnel with Alabama drivers license information, including a driver’s Social Security number, date of birth and home address, the release states.
While the information is to be used for law enforcement purposes only, the indictment alleges on Dec. 2, 2008, Pemberton used LETS to obtain the Social Security number and date of birth of an individual with the initials “BNP.” Pemberton applied for a Discover Card credit card over the Internet using his own address, but BNP’s name, Social Security number and date of birth, the release states.
Discover Card opened an account based on the application and Pemberton used the account to make payments on a previously fraudulently obtained American Express card account.
If convicted on both counts, Pemberton would face a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 22 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, and an order of restitution, the release states.
In a statement released from the Department of Public Safety, Director Chris Murphy says the MPD placed Pemberton on mandatory leave with pay effective Feb. 10, 2011. The Department of Public Safety asked the Office of City Investigations to review the matter and after consultation with the attorney assigned, the MPD initiated proceedings to terminate Pemberton’s employment, Murphy said in the statement.
Pemberton was employed with MPD in April 1994. He is assigned to the Administrative Division as a police desk sergeant.
“Police officers have great authority, and with that authority comes great responsibility,” Murphy said. “In such a position of public trust, there are clear consequences when the high standards the city of Montgomery sets are not met. Mayor (Todd) Strange, Chief (Kevin) Murphy and I are committed to accountability to the people we serve.”
At Pemberton’s initial appearance Friday before United States Magistrate Judge Terry Moorer, Pemberton was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond. Arraignment has been set for April 6, 2011.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, with the cooperation of the MPD.
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110225/NEWS/110225030/Montgomery%20officer%20indicted%20on%20fraud%20chargesA Montgomery Police Department officer was indicted on federal wire fraud and identity... more
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The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling that using someone else’s Social Security number is not identity theft as long as you use your own name with it.
The case surrounding the ruling involved Felix Montes-Rodriguez, who went to Hajek Chevrolet in Longmont to obtain a car loan. He used a false SSN on the loan application and to find employment. He was arrested after the owner of the SSN became aware of the theft.
Montes-Rodriguez was convicted of using another person’s Social Security number, but the state’s Supreme Court overturned the conviction, saying the Social Security number was one of several pieces of identifying information on the application and since Montes-Rodriguez used his real name, he was not posing as someone else.
The court ruled that the fact that the SSN was used to conduct a credit check was irrelevant as it was a lender requirement, not a legal requirement. The court said there is no evidence that a Social Security number is a legal requirement to obtain a loan.
Prosecutors in the case argued that a Social Security number is often the only avenue to a person’s credit history, and that when someone uses another person’s number, that person is assuming the other’s credit history.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/10/28/Using-false-SS-number-not-impersonation/UPI-80121288317800/The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling that using someone else’s Social... more
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Police are warning Long Island residents about a cell phone text message scam that can lead to identity theft.
The text messages are designed to swindle the receiver into sharing personal information through their cell phone.
Several Suffolk County residents have already notified police of text messages they have received. The senders usually claim to be from financial institutions. They also may claim to represent a government agency, or a merchant trying to fix problems with the victim’s account.
The public is reminded to never reveal their personal identifying information to anyone who has made an unsolicited attempt to contact them by phone, e-mail, or text message.
To prevent becoming a victim of a scam, the Identity Theft Unit recommends residents verify any request through independent means before releasing any of your personal information.
Call the local office of the government agency or business through a publicly listed or verified phone number to verify that the caller and any request for personal information is legitimate and is actually required.
More at link.Police are warning Long Island residents about a cell phone text message scam that can... more
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A California deputy has admitted using a doctor's recommendation and stolen identity from a legal medical marijuana patient in order to buy pot in a drug sting.
Deputy Steve Avila of the Calaveras County Sheriff's Department said during questioning that he had used the patient's recommendation, with a falsified birthdate, to persuade a dispensary owner to sell marijuana to an officer.
Avila claimed he obtained the medical marijuana recommendation "from an investigation we conducted," but also claimed he "did not recall" which officer obtained it, or how it was obtained.
Jay Smith of K Care Collective, the dispensary owner who was tricked into selling marijuana to an officer, said Calaveras County is waging a war against medical marijuana, and is doing so using unethical means, reports Dana M. Nichols of the San Joaquin County Record.
Robert Shaffer, the medical marijuana patient whose identity was stolen, tells the same story.
According to Shaffer, Deputy Avila violated his privacy by using his identity and documents in the sting operation.
Smith, Shaffer and several medical marijuana patients and providers pleaded for help this week from the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors.
"I also fear my identity is being used in another of Avila's illegal ruses," Shaffer told the supervisors.
"It just smacks of entrapment and sleaziness to me," said Dr. Philip A. Denney, who issued Shaffer's medical marijuana recommendation.
Denney said his office got a call from dispensary operator Smith, and that his staff confirmed that Shaffer had a valid medical marijuana recommendation, not knowing that Deputy Avila had stolen Shaffer's identity.
"I think the cops have better things to do," Dr. Denney said. "It was completely deceptive, because they never did talk to me. They did not have Mr. Shaffer's authorization for any of this."
At Smith's preliminary hearing May 10, Deputy Avila admitted that he had used Shaffer's recommendation.
Shaffer was arrested last November on felony marijuana transportation and sales charges. Investigators said they found Shaffer through a Craigslist ad for medical marijuana.
(more @ link)A California deputy has admitted using a doctor's recommendation and stolen... more
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