| Surfers still too careless with ID, says BT
BT has said UK web surfers are still doing too little to protect themselves against identity theft and has released a web user guide in an attempt to stop the problem escalating even further. The 10-point guide has been put together by BT in association with CPP, LloydsTSB, the Met Police and Yahoo! as well as the Get Safe Online initiative. Ray Stanton, head of security at BT Global Services, said identity theft is still on the rise, dubbing it a "silent part of fraud in the UK". Stanton cited figures from the UK government which suggest fraud accounted for �1.7bn in the UK last year. Although those figures have subsequently been subject to serious doubts, it's undeniable that identity theft is a major problem. BT also claims that eight per cent of UK PC users fall victim to online fraud and said too few are taking even basic steps to protect themselves, such as not handing over credit card numbers to unidentified third parties.
WA attorney general McKenna launches re-election bid
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna launched his 2008 re-election campaign on Wednesday, touting his first-term work fighting identity theft and methamphetamine abuse. McKenna, a former King County councilman, was first elected attorney general in 2004. He is one of three Republicans to hold statewide elected office, along with Secretary of State Sam Reed and Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland. In an interview, McKenna said his travels around the state working on consumer protection, crime and open government issues have helped him connect with Washingtonians. "I just need to do my job every day, and that's the most important thing I can do to persuade the voters to give me another four years," he said. McKenna filed paperwork to seek a second term shortly after winning the attorney general's seat in 2004.
Guardian Analytics Delivers Real-Time Online Fraud Prevention With ...
LOS ALTOS, Calif., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Guardian Analytics, Inc. today announced the release of FraudMAP(TM), its fraud prevention solution for protecting online accounts from fraud and identity theft. Providing comprehensive online channel risk management, FraudMAP delivers fraud detection, forensics and ongoing risk monitoring based on strong analytics and rich, predictive models of individual behavior. The unique solution was built from the ground up to automatically detect new online fraud threats without requiring fraud rules development or algorithm training. "Online accounts continue to be under attack from constantly evolving threats designed to steal account holder assets and information. These threats put the integrity of the online channel at risk and jeopardize the growth of online business," said Tom Miltonberger, president and CEO, Guardian Analytics.
ID theft prevention tools tested
You or someone you know has probably already been a victim. Identity theft is a huge problem that just gets worse this time of year. More shopping for gifts means more opportunity for thefts. Crime Tracker 3's Sophia Choi show you how to protect one of the most important items you can own, your identity. One slip up, and you could be stuck fighting bogus charges for 880 days. That should get your attention. Something that caught our attention were special pens, the makers of which claim prevent check fraud. We put it to the test. The pens boast specially formulated ink. Detective Kim Thomas tested it against a Gel Rollerball pen and a regular ink pen. After cutting the checks into pieces, he soaked them in a variety of chemicals from gasoline to acetone.
Buyer, Beware - Especially Online
As you make a list and check it twice, check yourself for safety against identity theft. It's a big problem this time of year, with more people shopping with their credit cards, and shopping online. Stealing your ID is not that difficult anymore. Consumer advocates say you protect yourself by being aware of your surroundings while using your card. Also, keep an eye on the clerk while the transaction is being processed. "There are different devices called skimmers," said Chad Reiflin of the Credit Education Bureau. "Folks can use to skim our cards and steal and store information. So just as being street smart, you need to be credit smart - and smart about what's going with your information and what is happening with your card." While shopping online, make sure the site is secure.
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