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Teen identity theft becomes a growing problem! Although many adults have been victims of identity theft and many more are concerned about this kind of crime, this new wave of identity theft focuses on teenagers and even preteens.

In fact, one study reports that the age group most affected with teen identity theft is between 10 and 16. And this presents a difficult challenge for young people. Because sadly, young victims like teens often do not know how to protect themselves. And before they can even get a good start in life, they already have a big problem on their hands.

It may surprise you to know that some parents or step parents are using their own children’s identities. They are usually parents that are in a bind and they may think they can just use their child’s identity to get out of the situation. But like with everything thing else, once they get started the abuse continues. Teen identity theft is especially sad since the victim is totally unaware of this for years and since the person is someone they should be able to trust the most is the predator. Of course, in most cases, the parent does not mean to harm their child and probably does not think of it as committing teen identity theft. They may think they are just borrowing their child’s name until they are clear of the problem they are having with their finances. The teen may not find out about this until some years later when applying for a student loan, for example.

But there are also other dangers for teens to become victims of identity theft. Places like My Space, for example, where kids give out information about themselves that may be just the right kind of information that can be used by a person who is committing teen identity theft.

Responsible parents who know of this growing problem can help other teens to protect themselves from being victims of teen identity theft. Here are some points a parent needs to discuss with their child:

1. Do not give any personal information like birth date and social security to anyone over the phone or on the internet, unless you are dealing with a reputable company

2. If you are applying for a student loan, for example, check your credit history first by contacting a credit bureau or your bank for more information.

3. When going to college or any other school, ask them not to use your social security number as your ID number.

You also want to tell your child the consequences of a stolen identity. Keeping in mind that your teen is just getting to know about life and serious consequences of wrong behavior. A young person has not had the experiences in life that you have had, so you want to help them to keep from being a victim of teen identity theft.

For children who have been victims of teen identity theft because of their own parents have the option to report the incident. A parent who has committed this kind of crime against their own child should take care of this in a responsible manner and have the account removed from their child’s name so that the teen can start his or her life in the right direction.

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When traveling, the main point is to keep your laptop in sight and it is not at all wise to leave it unattended. Try not to leave your laptop in a motor vehicle; it should be covered when placed in the trunk. Some companies provide a fully bonded security box with high-density safety cables to maximize security when the laptop out of the usual protected surroundings, such as while traveling in a vehicle. Don’t ever forget and leave a conference room without your laptop; it should be taken along or it may not be there when you return. Locking your laptop is the best way if you leave it in your office or workplace out of hours. Top security systems can be used to lock laptops securely away.

Therefore, the security of a laptop is a matter of great concern for those with large IT assets and people who are constantly traveling. Laptops represent a nearly impossible temptation for thieves, in the workplace, at the coffee shop, or on campus. They’re small, portable, usually of high value, and next to impossible to trace.

Current estimates say that a laptop is stolen about once every minute in this country, or half a million of them per year, and 97% of them are never recovered. Even more frustrating than losing the hardware is losing any data that’s on them – particularly if it’s a corporate laptop, where the files may be more valuable than the hardware!

Even if it’s not a corporate laptop, it may have your passwords for web sites, financial sites like PayPal or eBay embedded in it, or your bank. This can let a laptop thief make utter hash of your accounts in minutes with virtually no way to trace it back.

Holding on to your laptop is critically important and there are some simple, common sense guidelines to help you do this.

- Don’t advertise. Carry your laptop in something that carries other things as well. Obvious laptop bags are tempting targets on campus and in airports.

- Keep your eyes on it. Don’t let it out of your sight. If that means you wait to go to the bathroom until after you’ve put it in the car, you do that.

- Deterrence counts. Use a visible lock and cable to latch a laptop down to the table or chair you’re at – you don’t need to make this fool proof, but you do need to make it look hard to steal.

- When you’re computing in a public place, use passwords, use encryption, and read all the network availability lists carefully. One particularly ruthless trick is to impersonate the WiFi network of a public place, generally by changing the letter “l” to the number “1? in the name, and hope someone connects to them thinking they’re connecting to the real network, and using a keystroke logger.

- Don’t be afraid to encrypt important data. You can even set these things up so that someone who has your laptop needs to have your thumb drive to read the data on the hard drive.

- Look at all security options – marking your laptop with UV markings, including your name and phone number means that if it’s recovered, it may be returned. You can also buy software called LoJack for Laptops that will secretly report it as stolen after you’ve notified the company, and is hooked up on the internet.

- If you’re doing corporate laptop management, have policies in place – laptops will get stolen. Look into remote data destruction; in conjunction with a unique ID, to remove sensitive data from laptops that are stolen. Likewise, back up everything on a laptop – nothing should ever exist on a laptop that’s company critical that doesn’t have a backup on your servers.

So take care. Guard your laptop and keep your information safe.

So stay alert! Beware!

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Is online banking safe?

To those who fear being ripped off by cyber-thieves, the answer is a resounding “no.” There are criminals lurking online just waiting for an opportunity to steal your banking information, they will tell you. Yes, it’s true, there are cyber thieves waiting to retrieve your information. Just as there are thieves waiting to steal your mail and retrieve your vital information, or thieves waiting to steal your credit cards and rip you off.

But, if you fear doing your banking online there is one thing you need to know. Online banking can actually HELP keep you safer, IF you follow simple safety tips.

How can online banking help keep you safer? By allowing you to monitor your account between statements. How many times have you received your statement only to find something was amiss? Perhaps you find a check you remember writing, only it’s for an amount greater than what you wrote it for. Or you find ATM purchases and withdrawals you didn’t make. If you’re able to spot problems quicker, you’re able to avert a disaster down the line.

Online banking can be safe if you follow certain safety rules:

Be very careful when choosing passwords for online accounts

Use some common sense. Don’t choose your birthdate. Don’t choose pets’ names if you carry those names around with you in your purse or wallet, or if those around you are familiar with your pets’ names. Thieves are smart enough to try birthdates and pet names. Use strong passwords – that means a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, symbols and numbers that can’t be easily guessed. Some experts suggest long words, or two long words broken up with symbols or numbers.

Do not share your passwords with anyone

Well, that certainly seems simple enough. However, are you inadvertently sharing your password with strangers? Do you have passwords written down in your purse or wallet that could fall into the wrong hands if lost or stolen? And, remember, it’s not just strangers you have to worry about. According to one survey done by www.idtheftcenter.org the victim respondents indicated that 43% of them thought they knew the thief; 28% said the thief had done this to other family members as well.

Don’t have a file on your computer with your passwords

Again, a computer, particularly a laptop, can be stolen, along with all your sensitive passwords. And, if you ever get rid of your old computer make sure you take out the hard drive and destroy it, along with all sensitive data.

Use different passwords for different accounts

If you only use one username and password for all accounts and that information is compromised for one account, it’s then compromised for all accounts.

Don’t respond to emails asking for personal information

No matter how official the email looks, don’t give out your personal information. If you receive an email saying your account is going to be suspended, call the bank yourself, with a phone number from your bank statements, not a phone number provided in the email. And, never click on a link in such an email.

Don’t give personal information in unsolicited phone calls

If you receive a phone call purporting to be from your bank and they ask for personal information, don’t give it to them. Again, call your bank with a phone number from your own bank statements and see if the phone call is legitimate.

When using an ATM, don’t allow anyone to see you keying in your code

So you look a little paranoid when you cover the keypad with your body or hand. It’s your money and information you’re protecting.

Pick up your mail as soon as possible

Don’t let your mail sit in your box overnight. There may be a banking statement just waiting for a thief. And, if you can, purchase a locking mailbox which will thwart a future thief.

Check your online account regularly

Monitor your account to check for any unusual activity.

Online banking can be a wonderful timesaver. It can allow you to write bills online, transfer money between accounts and avoid long lines at the bank. And, if you follow basic safety rules it can also be a stress-free endeavor.

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