LifeLock Reviews

Credit card fraud is the number one fraud committed by identity theft criminals and possibly one of the easiest crimes to commit. Credit card fraud is split into two categories with the first method being a thief who actually steals an existing credit card. This is by far the easier crime to commit and luckily is easier to catch. The other option the thief may use is to gain access to your personal information and open a new credit card account that the victim will know nothing about. Many times the thief will use an alternate address and phone number so the victim never sees a bill and will not be aware of a problem until it is too late. There are steps you can take to prevent this type of fraud.

To prevent a thief from stealing your existing credit card you should cancel any credit cards you don’t need or use, pay close attention to your monthly bills, and above all else contact your financial institution immediately if you fail to receive your monthly billing statement. If a thief opens a new credit card account with your social security number it is harder to catch but there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening as well. Number one is the contact the Credit Reporting Agencies and request that no new lines of credit be approved without first seeking your approval. You should also request to be removed from any prescreened credit offer mailing lists as thieves can steal such offers out of your mailbox or trash.

You should also take advantage of the fact that you can access your credit history twice a year for free to check for any fraudulent activity. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the security departments of the appropriate financial institution immediately. Finally, if you are making purchases online you should use a credit card instead of a debit card. Let me explain.

Debit cards are legally riskier than traditional ATM cards or credit cards. While you are only liable for $50 if your credit card is used fraudulently, you may be liable for $500 or more if your debit card is misused plus the fact that the thief can drain your account dry and leave you broke until you get things worked out with your bank. In addition to this fact, debit cards offer much less protection then a credit card because with a credit card, you have certain legal rights to dispute fraudulent charges. If you suspect that your credit card or debit card has been compromised then you should contact your financial institution and cancel the card and put a hold on your funds.

LifeLock is one of the biggest identity theft protection companies in the world and serves both individuals and businesses. The company is based in Tempe, Arizona and was founded in 2005. LifeLock is funded by private equity investment and venture funds and is currently being valued in excess of $40 million and is well-poised to earn the leadership position in identity theft protection services. LifeLock is a private company and has no plans to go public at this time. It is using its revenues to both improve its program and also make the public more aware of the identity theft crime.

LifeLock is so sure of its ability to stop anyone from using stolen information, it backs its service with a $1 million guarantee and the companies CEO even gives out his social security number as proof of his confidence in the LifeLock program. The company is well funded and has never had a client’s identity stolen and is the leading provider of identity theft prevention services. LifeLock is now providing Veterans the opportunity to take control of their information through a free and reduced-cost.

A more serious type of identity theft activity is government documentation fraud where a criminal can use your personal information for many different purposes. They may get a drivers license or state ID with your information and their picture. One common practice of identity theft is the usage of someone else’s Social Security number for employment purposes. While this practice does happen with people who are on the run from the law or wish to stay hidden for some other reason, it is more likely that an illegal immigrant without a Social Security number of their own will commit this crime. The Social Security administration is not well equipped to detect this type of problem and it may go on for years unless the IRS notices some abnormality at tax time. Another problem that often arises is when the person using your Social Security number files for unemployment. There was a case several years ago at a small company where an employee, unknown to the employer, was an illegal immigrant and was using somebody else’s Social Security number. This employee was put on a two week temporary layoff and filed for unemployment with the false Social Security number that they had been using for years. By a matter of chance, the legal owner of the Social Security number filed for unemployment benefits the very same week which created a red flag for the Social Security administration department.

Possibly the most frightening type of fraud is where a person who has access to your person identity information gets arrested for some reason and supplies the authorities with your information. If they do immediate jail time, the worst that will happen is that you will develop a criminal history but if they are required to return for a court trial at a later date, you may encounter some real problems. The fact that they are already a criminal who has stolen your identity means that they are unlikely to bother showing up for their court appointment and a warrant will be issued in your name. Something as simple as a traffic violation can land you in jail, wondering just what is going on.

If you are ready to take action to protect your identity then the LifeLock Anti Identity Theft Program can help.