5 Types of Identity Theft

By now, every adult should know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. It has become an epidemic, leaving everyone at risk, including children, adults, the elderly, those with good credit, bad credit, or no credit. And, to make matters worse, most people do not know if their identity has been stolen.

The biggest misconception is that identity theft only affects or involves your credit. If you, too, believe that identity theft only affects or involves your credit, then you might want to keep reading.

In addition to credit related identity theft, there are at least four other categories of identity theft that will not necessarily affect your credit, but can ruin your life. The following are real life stories.

1. Character identity theft. Someone impersonates you and commits a crime in your name resulting in warrants issued in your name, arrests made, and time spent in jail.

Donna has been impersonated by her sister for many years. Unfortunately for Donna, her sister has an extensive criminal record. In order to clear her name, Donna has had to hire an attorney. She has been told that once your name is associated with a crime, it can never come off.

Someone with a criminal record stole Harry's wallet. Unbeknownst to Harry, the thief then committed several crimes in Harry's name. Unfortunately, this criminal activity was entered into the database of a background check company that provides data to potential employers. Harry lost his job and has been unable to find work because of the false information.

Three years ago, Jane's purse was stolen by someone she knew. The identity thief bought a car with Jane's ID and committed other crimes in Jane's name (writing bad checks and burglary). No one in law enforcement believes Jane when she says she is not the criminal, not even the District Attorney who is charging her with the crimes.

John, a man from San Diego, traveled to Mexico to visit his relatives. On his way back home, he was stopped and told that there was an arrest warrant issued in his name. Apparently, someone had been committing crimes in his name and using his Social Security number. John was arrested and taken to San Francisco where he spent 10 days in jail. After finally convincing a police office that he was not the criminal, John was released and left stranded without any money.

2. Social Security Number (SSN) identity theft. Someone steals your SSN and obtains employment in your name. The thief's employer reports wages earned to the IRS under your SSN leaving you to pay income taxes on these earnings. Further, an identity thief's use of your SSN can cause you to lose life sustaining benefits.

Paul received a letter from the IRS stating that he had earned additional income in 2003. Paul never earned this additional income. An identity thief used Paul's SSN and earned wages in Paul's name. Now Paul's credit is ruined, and the IRS wants to be paid.

Alex lost his wallet, and he never bothered to report it to the police. In 2005, he filed his tax return and expected a refund. Instead, he received nothing. The IRS withheld his refund check to pay off back taxes he owed from 2002. Apparently in 2002, someone had used Alex's SSN to earn wages in Alex's name. This "unreported income" left Alex with a $9000 tax bill.

Someone has been using Mary's SSN to earn wages. Mary, who had been receiving AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) benefits, lost her benefits because income records show her as having a salary.

Jack applied for unemployment benefits, but he was denied because records showed that he was actually working. Apparently, someone in another city had been using his SSN to earn wages in his name. Jack was told that he had to prove that his identity had been stolen.

3. Medical identity theft. Someone steals your identity and either obtains medical insurance in your name or uses your current medical insurance policy to obtain treatment or prescriptions. You can be denied health coverage or lose your current health coverage because of false information placed in your medical record.

An identity thief received treatment for an injury to his hand using a stolen identity. Now, the identity theft victim has been receiving letters demanding payment for drugs and services rendered to the thief.

4. Driver's license identity theft. Someone commits traffic related offenses in your name. When the identity thief fails to appear in court, warrants are issued in your name.

In 2003, Alex's driver's license was revoked because he had another driver's license in another state revoked due to criminal charges. In addition, Alex had warrants out for his arrest in the other state. After about a year of working to clear his name, Alex's driver's license was reinstated.

An identity thief with a poor driving record obtained a copy of Sara's driver's license. Now, because of the identity thief's poor driving record, Sara's license has been suspended, and she is in danger of losing her auto insurance.

5. Credit identity theft. Someone uses your information to obtain loans, goods, or services and does not pay the bills. The accumulating unpaid bills end up going to collection, which can affect your credit.

For over six years, Kate has been a victim of identity theft. Even a fraud alert placed on her credit report has not stopped the identity thief. As a result, Kate can not purchase a home because of bad credit.

An identity thief wrote bad checks and opened several credit card accounts in Erica's name. Consequently, Erica's application to open her own bank account was denied. Erica has had to hire an attorney to clear her name. This has cost her over $4,500.

So, you can see that once an identity thief has your identity, he/she can do just about anything including ruining your life. Don't think you are immune. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there have been at least 111 disclosed incidents of data breaches since January 2005 that could potentially expose 53 million individuals to identity theft. This number is steadily increasing. Further, according to the FTC, over 27,000 people per day have their identities stolen in America.

Your information is not safe. As long as others (employers, credit card companies, medical facilities, etc.) have your private information, you are always at risk for identity theft. All it takes is for an employer to lose your information or give it away or one person/employee to steal the information. A cellular phone company experienced just that when employees used customer data to create fraudulent accounts. The bogus accounts were used by the thieves and their friends to ring up thousands of dollars in calls.

When it comes to protecting your identity, being proactive is the only practical way to go to avoid the frustration, time, and expense of restoring your identity and name. Some things you can do to prevent identity theft include not giving out your personal information, shredding unwanted mail, and not carrying your SSN card with you. Also, continuous credit monitoring is an easy, effective and often inexpensive way of keeping an eye on your credit at all times to help prevent credit related identity theft.

Nicole K. White, Esq., an attorney and an identity theft consultant, established Kinsey Law Group, P.C. to help consumers resolve their financial matters in the areas of Consumer Law (consumer disputes, credit report errors, debt collection abuse/harassment, debtor defense in debt collection suits, and identity theft), Estate and Health Planning (wills, living wills and advance directives, burial directives, powers of attorney and trusts), and Guardianship Planning for Minors. To learn more about how consumers can protect their finances, visit http://www.kinseylawgroup.com/. Copyright © 2006. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Kinsey_White

Help Haiti!

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten." The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.

Donate

• Contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.
• Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a  $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).
• Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Get Information about Friends or Family

The State Department has several resources for inquiring about the welfare and whereabouts of friends and family in Haiti:

• To Ask For or Provide Information About U.S. Citizens in Haiti:
  • Email the Task Force at Haiti-Earthquake@state.gov OR
  • From the U.S. or Canada, call 888-407-4747 (Other countries, call 202-501-4444)
• For U.S. Citizens in Haiti Seeking Assistance or Reporting Their Status/Whereabouts:
  • Email the Embassy at ACSPaP@state.gov OR
  • Call the Embassy's Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672
    

When contacting any of the numbers or using the emails above, please include the following information:

• The full name, date of birth and passport information (if known) of the persons in Haiti you are trying to contact.
• Their contact information in Haiti; telephone numbers, email address, hotel name or address (if known)
• Your name and contact information, and your relationship to the person in Haiti (parent, spouse, friend etc.)
• Any special or emergency circumstances.

For All Nationalities and Locations

For more information about locating friends and family members, visit the State Department's Haiti Earthquake website.

The Federal Response

Check out the links below to find out how each federal department and agency is responding to the earthquake in Haiti.

• U.S. Agency for International Development
• The Department of State
  • U.S Embassy in Haiti
  • Anbasad Amerikèn, Pòtoprens, Ayiti
  • Ambassade des États-Unis, Haiti
• The Department of Defense
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Navy
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Marines
    
• The Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Coast Guard
• The Department of Health and Human Services
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• The Federal Communications Commission
• The Department of Interior
  
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management

 

5 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Endangered species, pollution, and deforestation were once the buzzwords on every environmentalist's lips. As the twenty first century kicks into high gear, however, these issues are being pushed aside by the concern that has taken over the green movement almost entirely. Whether it is a result of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth or of a recent spate of severe weather, there is no denying that reducing carbon emissions has become the number one priority to environmentalists and politicians alike.

Reducing the carbon footprint has become a significant goal for governments, businesses and individuals, and with good reason. Fossil fuels seem to be running short, fuel prices are soaring, and there is no denying that the Earth seems to be heating up. But what can an individual do? Though it may seem insignificant, the dictum 'Think globally, act locally' has never been more applicable than in the case of reducing greenhouse gasses. Below are five painless ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

1. Minimize driving and use person power: Walk, jog or ride a bike to work. Save up small errands so they can all be taken care of in a single trip. Carpool with a friend. Whenever possible, use public transportation.

2. Switch light bulbs: Switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs will save energy with no inconvenience whatsoever. While you're at it, old, inefficient Christmas lights can be traded in for new LED ones, and electric patio lights can be replaced with solar powered lights.

3. Opt for green energy: More and more people are making the choice to go off the grid and produce their own energy through winds or solar power. When this isn't an option, many electric companies now offer the choice to select the source of energy billed to a particular account.

4. Buy local: Buying local saves on carbon emissions by reducing or eliminating shipping cost, and has the added benefit of supporting the local economy.

5. Become Energy Conscious: There are dozens of opportunities every day to make more energy conscious choices. Becoming conscious of the energy used in daily life is the first step to eliminating excess energy use, and reducing your carbon footprint.

Rodney has just graduated university and writes articles online and in newspapers for a living. You can view his latest website on how to change a radiator to learn the steps to take on several radiator related issues such as how to change radiator coolant. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rodney_Jamison

Change Unhealthy Recipes to Healthy

2010 is here, and I know a lot of people make losing weight a New Years' Resolution. I promised myself that I was going to get healthy, not just lose weight this year.

You know the way most Americans eat is unhealthy. My fiancee has a lot of recipe books. I thumb through them, and I could not find one healthy recipe.

So I started looking for ways to make things healthier. I use Stevia instead of sugar, Splenda, Sweet N Low, or Equal. It is a natural sweetener that does not affect your insulin levels. I use Smart Balance Buttery Spread. It is rich with Omega-3s. It is non-hydrogenated. Using Smart Balance instead of other buttery spreads and butter can improve you Cholesterol.

I use Smart Balance Peanut Butter, too. It has Flax Seed Oil. It has not hydrogenated oil in it. It also has 1000mg of Omega-3s per serving. It has no refined sugar either. Omega-3s helps reduce inflammation, helps prevent cancer cell growth, and so much more.

I was looking through some recipes, and I want to put a couple here to show you how much they changed. I like ranch dressing. We all know how fattening ranch dressing is. It is also bad for your cholesterol. I mixed 2 ranch packets, with fat free sour cream, and skim milk. It taste just like Hidden Valley Ranch. When I mixed just one of the packets it did not taste as good. Regular ranch dressing has around 14-18 grams of fat per serving, which is 2 tablespoons. Newman's Ranch dressing has 30 grams a fat per serving. So, try that recipe it has no fat, and you will not believe how good it tastes.

I wanted to put a dessert recipe to show how small changes can mean a lot to your healthy eating lifestyle. On Thanksgiving and Christmas, my family expects me to make a Dirt Cake. Here are the ingredients: Oreo Cookies, milk, cream cheese, cool whip, vanilla pudding, vanilla flavoring, and power sugar. I bought the fat free Oreos, skim milk, fat free cream cheese, fat free cool whip, sugar free pudding, and Stevia. I buy my Stevia in liquid form at the health food store. When I made it this year, it was a lot healthier. You can tell by my ingredients. I enjoyed the holidays but we also made everything a lot healthier.

Our macaroni and cheese was made with light cheese, instead of the full fat. No one could tell. A lot of people think if you eat healthy that the food will taste bad. It does not. I will say this, I do not use the fat free cheeses for recipes. It does not seem to melt as good, and it is kind of chewy.

I will do more articles later on making more recipes healthier.

Jaden Daniels makes promises instead of resolutions. This year he promised to get healthy. He has tried so many diets that did not work over the years. Now with the help of Healthy Shores, he is getting in the best shape of his life. It is a home based business like no other. There is no qualifying. There is no Autoship. There is no minimum to buy each month, but the products work. They Really work. See for yourself. http://gethealthyshores.com I wish everyone a prosperous 2010! Jaden Daniels 843-632-2828 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaden_Daniels

Research Your Family Tree & Discover Your Past

You can discover your past with research your family tree information. You may be in for a surprise, while learning more about your ancestors. Understanding the development of your family down through the generations will offer you better insight to who you are. The family tree is somewhat the map outlining the genealogical history of your family. As you research your families history, you will most likely find out some interesting bits of information.

Do not let the task overwhelm you, you can easily find out what to do and where to go to find the information you need. Tracing your family linage is a wonderful learning experience for you and your family, full of fun and surprises.

First, you need to visit with as many older relatives as possible, since they hold a wealth of information. They often love to share these old stories. Ask them to remember as far back as possible, since this will provide you with a good research starting point.

Keep in mind that just about everyone eventually seems to comes to a time so far back that no one living remembers the information. Do not let this discourage you from your task.

While talking with relatives take notes or perhaps even record their words. Remember to ask about maiden names, marriages, children, dates and so on. Trace your family tree back as far as possible with the help of your family. While making your family tree be sure to double check all your information for accuracy. You should also find out about the locations that pertain to each member you research, birthplaces, where they lived and where they died if they have already passed on. This is all useful information for your family tree research.

After getting all the information you can from family members, you will begin gathering any documents you need. You may be able to trace any missing family members while using such information as maiden names, names of children and addresses.

Gather all the old photographs you can find. You can scan them and any old documents you may wish to include. You will find that photographs and documents help figure out your family timeline, in order to tell your genealogy story.

While searching for research family tree information you will find the internet offers you a great resource. You may want to use some genealogy websites, some of them are free to use, while others do charge access fees. Free sites are a good place to start. You may be able to find family information while using them. Paid sites use their revenues to improve the site for your use.

Family history websites allow you to search their databases for information you may not find any other way. You may search and find birth certificates, marriage licenses, census records, criminal records and death certificates. These family vital records can increase your progress.

Research family tree information is important; it helps you connect with your past. You gain clarity of who you are and where you come from. One of the best things about creating your family tree is that you can help others in your family, even future generation know who they are and where they came from.

Daniel K. Voyles is a genealogy enthusiast. For more great information on research your family tree visit http://yourgenealogyhistory.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_K._Voyles

Good Apartment Pets

With approximately half of the population of the United States owning a pet, there can be no doubt, it is an animal loving nation. However, with many people living in apartments, the well-being of the animal should be placed above an individual's desire to own a pet. I am obviously not suggesting that apartment dwellers should not own a pet, but it is important to ensure that your animal of choice is suitable for life in an environment of limited space.

Dogs

If you live in an apartment, especially one with no garden or yard, it is probably best not to purchase a large breed of dog, such as a Great Dane, St Bernard or an Irish Wolfhound. Of course, from the dog's point of view, if you are in a position that allows you to take the dog out frequently and regularly throughout the day, then it may be possible to live with a large dog in an apartment. On the other hand, from your point of view, it is always worth considering how much space in your home the dog will take up.

Therefore, I would recommend small breeds of dog for apartment living. Some dogs you may wish to consider include Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Jack Russell, Pug and Yorkshire Terrier. Obviously, there are many more small breeds that would be equally suitable for apartment living. However, I would particularly recommend the Pug, because not only is it a small dog, but it is also generally very quiet. Pugs are not known for being yappy, which, unfortunately, many toy breeds can be.

Cats

If you plan to keep your cat as an 'indoor cat', then it is advisable to ensure that you have lots of toys and climbing equipment for your cat. Cats that do not have this kind of stimulation tend to get bored and can easily put on weight. Consequently, many indoor cats suffer from a variety of obesity related health problems.

However, as long as a cat has plenty to keep him, or her, occupied, it can make a wonderful apartment pet. Some owners choose to have their cats de-clawed, which is a contentious issue. Obviously, the aim is to ensure that the cat cannot damage any furniture or other household objects. However, this should not be necessary, if your cat has enough toys of its own, it will not begin to treat your expensive furniture as a toy. Of course, it is important that your cat is litter trained and that you clean your cat's litter box regularly.

Smaller Pets

Obviously, smaller animals make the ideal apartment pets, because they do not take up too much room and, typically, don't make much noise. I say 'typically' because some birds can sound like a foghorn despite their small stature.

Small pets that you may like to consider for your apartment include hamsters, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish and small birds. It is important to do your research on any pet before you purchase it, but this is especially true of exotic pets, such as birds, lizards and tropical fish. In addition, some small animals dislike living alone, for example, rats and guineas pigs are very social animals, so, it would be cruel to keep just one of these animals on his, or her, own. Conversely, most breeds of hamster live solitary lives in the wild and, therefore, should not be kept in pairs or groups.

Whichever pet you choose to own, it is wise to ensure that you can supply all of its needs. The amount of space in your apartment and the time you can offer your pet should be among your first considerations.

Samantha Markham is a uk-based freelance writer. Currently, she is working for Remmeer.com, an online supplier of quality pet products and beautiful gifts, such as pet lover gifts and unique dog toys. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Markham

Displaying Flat Panel Televisions In Your Home

So, you have purchased that flat-screen television that you always wanted. Now, the question you have to ask is, what to do with it when you get it home? Most of them come with a basic floor stand. Do you use it or look at other options? You can choose from a variety of stand, cabinets and wall brackets For LCD And Plasma TVs. In most instances, these wider screen sets are not going to fit in your existing entertainment center. That means this is something else you have to consider, along with purchasing the television.

To be honest, these televisions cost more than traditional sets. This means that you also want to be able to protect your investment. Something that tips easily is not a good idea. Nor do you want to put it in a flimsy cabinet or on unstable wall mounts. Your best choice is to go with something that is specially designed for these types of sets. That way you know it will not fall over or crash off the wall when someone slams the front door.

There are stands that are specially made for these types of sets. They are perfect if you prefer to use it like a floor model. They are designed to keep the weight balance and prevent tipping. Some of them even have fasteners, to further ensure they hold your television securely.

You can purchase them in a variety of materials. You can get wood, glass, plastic or metal, whatever suits your style. The main drawback is that once set-up, most of these are not adjustable. You cannot easily change the angle of the television for better viewing. Most come with one and if you are on a tight budget, you may prefer to just use it.

If you like to be able to conceal your television when it is not in use, then you may prefer a cabinet. There are ones available to fit these types of sets and be decorative at the same time. The materials these are manufactured in also vary widely. Some great contemporary style ones are made of metal and glass. The bonus to these is that some can also function as entertainment centers. With shelves and drawers, they can hold other electronics or knick-knacks and not just the television. The main drawback here would be having to fit another piece of furniture into your home.

The third option is to wall mount your new purchase. These are usually a great choice, since you can find ones that fit any budget. The basic mounts attach to the wall and hold the set securely in place. They work similarly to hanging a picture on the wall. The only problem with these is that you cannot adjust the set once in place. They can also be hard to remove if you need to relocate your television.

Tilting wall brackets, another option, allow you adjust the angle of the set. If you have trouble viewing it from your favorite chair, you can move it to see better. The next in line are full-motion brackets. They use arms to extend the set from the wall and allow more precise viewing adjustments.

With the variety of stand, cabinets and wall brackets for LCD And Plasma TVs available, you can take your pick. Whichever you choose, you can find reliable display options to suit your budget and taste. It is a great feeling to know your investment is both safe and secure.

If you want to find out more information... With 10 years of experience from working in the home electronics sector Kenneth McCoy is now sharing his knowledge via his articles. For further details and low price offers click plasma TV stands or LCD TV stands Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_F_Mccoy