Comments on: Identity Theft is Too Easy – Phishing with a Fax Number http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/ Money Tips for a Better Life Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:43:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jake http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-84292 Jake Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:24:06 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-84292 Be careful with LifeLock. Sounds like a great inexpensive identity theft protection service, but I've heard from others that the service may also hinder your ability to obtain your free annual credit report from annualcreditreport.com because of the fraud alert placed on your credit file by being a LifeLock member. Otherwise go for it if you suspect someone of trying to steal your identity. Be careful with LifeLock. Sounds like a great inexpensive identity theft protection service, but I’ve heard from others that the service may also hinder your ability to obtain your free annual credit report from annualcreditreport.com because of the fraud alert placed on your credit file by being a LifeLock member. Otherwise go for it if you suspect someone of trying to steal your identity.

]]> By: Nick http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-60161 Nick Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:51:13 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-60161 The LifeLock commercial where their CEO is walking around handing out his social is priceless. Definitely a good marketing ploy and judging from all of the good reviews floating around, this sounds like a solid service as well. Nick The LifeLock commercial where their CEO is walking around handing out his social is priceless. Definitely a good marketing ploy and judging from all of the good reviews floating around, this sounds like a solid service as well.
Nick

]]> By: EmilyStarbuck http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-55019 EmilyStarbuck Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:13:54 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-55019 I actually did an interview with a man the other day who used to be the postmaster of AOL and is a spam expert, and he said there is a scam going around. It's an email that looks like it's from the IRS saying you overpaid by $37-something, and if you reply with your personal information, the money will be wired to you. Instead, they commit identity theft with your information. The man said almost nobody falls for the Nigerian scam emails anymore, but when an email looks like its from the IRS, people trust it. Pretty scary stuff. If you get an unsolicited fax or email requesting personal information, always call the company first to make sure it really was them! I actually did an interview with a man the other day who used to be the postmaster of AOL and is a spam expert, and he said there is a scam going around. It’s an email that looks like it’s from the IRS saying you overpaid by $37-something, and if you reply with your personal information, the money will be wired to you. Instead, they commit identity theft with your information. The man said almost nobody falls for the Nigerian scam emails anymore, but when an email looks like its from the IRS, people trust it. Pretty scary stuff. If you get an unsolicited fax or email requesting personal information, always call the company first to make sure it really was them!

]]> By: Mo http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-53645 Mo Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:49:32 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-53645 Here are some of the rules I usually follow when I get emails like that. - check the from email address. If its from a freely available domain like yahoo, gmail then its most likely a spam. I would expect any company requesting me such info to be official and send the mail thru corporate address. - If their are links in the email, bring the mouse pointer on the link (Do not click it) and see whats the address on the browser foot bar. see if its a legitimate and whether I have an account with that company. - If I find all this legit then I call the company from which I got the email and ask them if they had indeed sent an email to me and if so what is the fax number to fax back. Use that fax number. Here are some of the rules I usually follow when I get emails like that.

- check the from email address. If its from a freely available domain like yahoo, gmail then its most likely a spam. I would expect any company requesting me such info to be official and send the mail thru corporate address.

- If their are links in the email, bring the mouse pointer on the link (Do not click it) and see whats the address on the browser foot bar. see if its a legitimate and whether I have an account with that company.

- If I find all this legit then I call the company from which I got the email and ask them if they had indeed sent an email to me and if so what is the fax number to fax back. Use that fax number.

]]> By: Ben http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-52248 Ben Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:23:33 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-52248 Jeremy, I know what you mean about all the companies that have our info. That's why I signed up with an EIN instead of an SSN and used a mail box instead of my home address. My box is already flooded with junk mail, UGH! Clever Dude, you're obviously more clever than me : ) Good job on calling to verify before faxing, I should have done the same. Todd, thanks for sharing your experiences with LifeLock. I see the CEO is broadcasting his social security name all over the world in their ads so he must feel pretty confident about the service : ) Jeremy, I know what you mean about all the companies that have our info. That’s why I signed up with an EIN instead of an SSN and used a mail box instead of my home address. My box is already flooded with junk mail, UGH!

Clever Dude, you’re obviously more clever than me : ) Good job on calling to verify before faxing, I should have done the same.

Todd, thanks for sharing your experiences with LifeLock. I see the CEO is broadcasting his social security name all over the world in their ads so he must feel pretty confident about the service
: )

]]> By: Todd http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-52196 Todd Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:53:59 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-52196 I actually use Lifelock and like their services. When you sign up they do several things on your behalf. First, they lock your credit with the three major credit companies. This means that if anyone (even me) attempts to apply for credit in my name and SSN, it is blocked, then I am immediately notified. Second, they stop the junk mail that you get from all the credit card companies. Third, they actually get credit reports sent out to you on an annual basis. The credit locks actually cost money for anyone to perform with the three major credit companies, and Lifelock will actually do this every three months, which is when the locks expire. So, I've been happy with their service and its a small price to pay to not have to worry about my identity being stolen. I actually use Lifelock and like their services. When you sign up they do several things on your behalf. First, they lock your credit with the three major credit companies. This means that if anyone (even me) attempts to apply for credit in my name and SSN, it is blocked, then I am immediately notified. Second, they stop the junk mail that you get from all the credit card companies. Third, they actually get credit reports sent out to you on an annual basis.

The credit locks actually cost money for anyone to perform with the three major credit companies, and Lifelock will actually do this every three months, which is when the locks expire. So, I’ve been happy with their service and its a small price to pay to not have to worry about my identity being stolen.

]]> By: Clever Dude http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-51697 Clever Dude Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:10:19 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-51697 I know the exact email you're talking about and right before faxing it over, I did some research on the number and found it to be legit. I bet that these types of scams on bloggers are VERY easy because the newbies (and even the experienced) don't want to get their money or paperwork late, and definitley don't want to have backup withholdings taken out of our pay! I know the exact email you’re talking about and right before faxing it over, I did some research on the number and found it to be legit.

I bet that these types of scams on bloggers are VERY easy because the newbies (and even the experienced) don’t want to get their money or paperwork late, and definitley don’t want to have backup withholdings taken out of our pay!

]]> By: Jeremy http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/comment-page-1/#comment-51648 Jeremy Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:02:33 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/identity-theft-is-too-easy-phishing-with-a-fax-number/#comment-51648 Wow, never even thought of that type of scam. I'm always worried about online junk. What is really scary is the number of companies that have all my info. I doubt even half of them keep that info truly secure. Wow, never even thought of that type of scam. I’m always worried about online junk.

What is really scary is the number of companies that have all my info. I doubt even half of them keep that info truly secure.

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