As we honor the sacrifices made by past, current and future members of our nation’s military, we may be unaware of the extent to which these brave soldiers put their entire lives on the line. In addition to risking their physical safety and emotional well-being, the members of the US military also may incur the damage of another large piece of their collective livelihood: their identities. For a variety of reasons, military personnel are often targeted by identity thieves and victimized during deployment or upon their return home. Take David Hernandez, for instance, who can.. || Continue Reading →

These days, employers are looking for any chance to weed out applicants and bring the pool down to a manageable number. In addition to résumés and interviews, many employers are requesting background checks from applicants and promotion candidates. A practice once reserved for medical and education professionals, background checks have become commonplace for many job applicants – even for the teenage counter clerk at your local electronics store. Does the thought of a background check send you into cold sweats? Pacing the floor, and wondering what kinds of skeletons the.. || Continue Reading →

Summer is here, and for many people, this means taking some time off for a warm-weather getaway. Some people choose to take an extensive vacation abroad, while others may simply take a weekend road trip to the beach. Either way, protecting your identity should remain a top priority. Vacations can be a perfect opportunity for criminals to strike, whether they prey on empty homes or distracted tourists, so you must remain vigilant about your personal information and documents. Follow these simple tips – both before you depart and while on your vacation – to protect yourself.. || Continue Reading →

This week, 28,000 voters in Virginia received letters notifying them that their personal information had been breached via a couple of stolen laptops used for polling place registration. Didn’t receive a letter? Don’t even live in Virginia? Don’t care? Well, maybe not this time, but chances are that you will be a victim of a data breach at least once in your lifetime, whether you are aware of it or not. It seems that nearly every day there is a new story about a data breach, in which consumers’ personal information is stolen from a company or entity with which they’ve.. || Continue Reading →

In the movie “Office Space,” the main characters embark on a scheme to punish their employer and get rich by gradually siphoning pennies into their own accounts through bank transactions. I won’t spoil the plot for those that haven’t seen it, but let’s just say that things don’t go exactly as planned and hilarity ensues. Not so hilarious, however, is the real-life scam that is being played out currently. According to the Boston Globe, at least 800 bank customers have been the victims of a similar scheme utilized by fraudulent hackers. In this situation, customers.. || Continue Reading →

As schools across the country begin winding down for summer break, it’s easy to forget the books and tests until classes resume in the fall. However, it’s important to know that the private records of students, faculty, staff, and even parents are exposed to risk even after the school bell rings. There has been a rash of data breaches in the past year that have targeted educational institutions. For instance, the University of Florida was hit a whopping three times with large-scale security breaches in a matter of only three months, the most recent of which exposed the private.. || Continue Reading →

In an article today on MSNBC, a recent YouTube video has gained the attention of national media.  In this video (which has since been removed from YouTube), a sleazy entrepreneur markets his wares while driving around town, showing only his steering wheel while he describes the information he has for sale.  The seller does not disguise the fact that he’s peddling stolen records — including the names, social security numbers, addresses and other sensitive information of his victims. For a small fee ($25 according to MSNBC) deposited into his PayPal account, anyone can.. || Continue Reading →

Are you getting tired of hearing the phrase “in these economic times” in reference to the dismal state of the current economy?  Well, you’ll have to get used to it, because “these economic times” have been a catalyst for a multitude of unfortunate repercussions, and it doesn’t look like it’s getting better anytime soon. Besides the obvious implications, like job losses and pay cuts, there are other things that come out of a recession, like rising crime. What are desperate people going to do when they run out of cash?  When they can’t get the mortgage or loan.. || Continue Reading →

Looking for a job?  So are 13 million other Americans.  Of course, this comes as no surprise in the current economic climate.  The real surprise, however, is the threat of vulnerability to your most sensitive information that comes along with the job search. Of course, many potential employers want a great deal of your background information before they will even consider hiring you.  They want to make sure you are who you say you are, and to perform background checks to ensure that there is nothing in your past that could hinder your ability to be a good employee.  So,.. || Continue Reading →

April 17th is quickly approaching.  Have you done your taxes yet? For many people, the thought of tax season drives chills up their spine.  To some, the annual process of filing with the IRS is a slight annoyance, and for others, it can be a complex process worth dreading every year.  Regardless, when most people drop their tax forms in the mailbox, or press the “send” button on their computer, they wipe their hands of all W-4’s and 1040’s, happy to have the ordeal completed for the year. But what if your sense of relief was shattered by the detection of an identity.. || Continue Reading →