by Paul MankinFormer Con-Artist Tells Consumers How to Prevent Becoming a Target of Identity Theft
Frank Abagnale, Jr., a notorious conman and identity thief, turned trusted FBI consultant and one of the world’s most respected authorities on fraud, forgery and cyber security is now offering his advice on protecting yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.
Who is Frank Abagnale, Jr.?
The academy award nominated feature film, Catch Me If You Can, starring, Leonardo DiCaprio is based on Abagnale’s story. While some details of his story concerning his scams, frauds, and identity thefts cannot be verified, he served less than five years in prison for his crimes before beginning work for the federal government. He is currently a consultant and lecturer for the FBI academy and field offices and runs Abagnale & Associates, a financial fraud consultancy company, and author of his 1980 memoir, Catch Me If You Can, 2008 book, Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan, and newest book, Scam Me If You Can: Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Rip-off Artists.
What Does Abagnale Recommend You Do to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft?
Abagnale says that telephone and e-mail scams where the thief contacts you directly will generally raise one of two red flags: the scammer or thief will ask you for money and will want it immediately or they will ask you for your personal information. The easiest way to combat these types of direct contact theft attempts is to hang up on the caller or simply delete the e-mail and not give out your information or send anyone any money. But what else can you do to protect yourself?
Stop Making Mistakes With Your Internet Passwords
If you use the internet a lot, you have probably noticed that some websites now offer alternatives to passwords, like signing in with your phone. This is the future of technology, which is now seeking to eliminate passwords all together. As Abagnale says, passwords are 1964 technology, and a major contributor to the success of scammers and identity thieves. So, if your bank or financial institution, ATM, e-mail provider, or commonly used retailers offer you a way to sign in without a password, use it. Until passwords are a thing of the past, however, there are things you can do to help minimize your risk of becoming a target of identity theft by those trying to steal your passwords:
- Use passwords containing at 8 to 14 characters, with 14 being the ideal number.
- Do not use personal information such as pet’s names, social security number, or birthdates in your passwords.
- Do not use the same password for everything. Limit each password to only a few websites so that if it becomes compromised, it is easier to change.
- Use a combination of letters, numbers, and characters in your passwords.
- Change your passwords on a regular basis.
- Write your passwords down on paper; do not use electronic means to help you remember them.
Never Use a Debit Card
Many consumers live on their debit card and rarely carry cash or use credit cards. But this may leave them vulnerable to identity theft. While cash may offer the greatest protection, it may not be practical for most consumers in most situations. Who wants to go into the gas station to pre-pay for fuel, when they can just swipe their card at the pump? But credit cards can offer the same convenience as a debit card, while providing more protection in case the card is compromised. For example, if an identity thief gets a hold of your debit card number and uses it, the money will come out of your bank account almost immediately, but you will not be able to get it back for days, or sometimes weeks, once you discover and report the charge(s) as fraudulent. This can leave you unable to cover checks for important bills or extract cash at an ATM for daily living expenses. For those are not willing or able to get and use a credit card for everyday expenses, there are pre-paid debit cards to consider and now many retailers are offering options such as Google Wallet, Square Cash, and Apple Pay. While these apps may use debit card information, it is more secure than swiping or handing over your card and may offer additional ways to load money to your account.
Pay Attention to What You Post on Facebook
Your Facebook profile most likely already contains personal information that can be a good start for a patient identity thief. You may have included some of this information in your profile, posted some on your timeline, or unwittingly shared it by just being someone’s Facebook friend. This information might include:
- Your birthday (even if you do not intentionally share it, you may receive public birthday wishes from friend and family)
- Information you may use in passwords such as your pets names, anniversaries, and favorite foods or vacation spots
- Your home address, when you create events that you are hosting or post items you wish to sell or give away, or when replying to a friend in the comments of a post
- Your mother’s maiden name, if she is your friend on the social media site and is currently using her maiden name as part of her screen name
This does not mean that you have to stop sharing on social media sites, but Abagnale recommends that you simply be more selective about what information you share and with whom you share it.
Protect Your Personal Information
The most important thing you can do to help prevent becoming a target of identity theft is to protect your personal information. Abagnale says that some of the things you should to in order to protect this information is:
- Shred anything with your personal information on it when throwing it out, including social security statements, old checks, and bank statements
- Never give out personal information over the phone to someone who called you
- Do not send any of your personal information to anyone via e-mail
- Never share your personal files or information on or over the internet
- Do not print your social security number on your checks or carry your social security card with you
- Always pick up your mail as soon as possible, do not leave your mailbox overflowing
- Do not trust ATM or credit card devices that look suspicious
- Cover the ATM keypad with your hand when entering your PIN
- Be on guard for spyware, malware, and other malicious software when using your computer, tablet, or smart phone
Where Do I Get More Identity Theft Protection Information from Frank Abagnale, Jr.?
Abagnale is the co-host of the American Association for Retired Persons’ (AARP) The Perfect Scam podcast, has videos posted on YouTube, and his books, Stealing Your Life and Scam Me if You Can are available for purchase on Amazon. His website also contains information about his company and books and other publications.
If you are a victim of identity theft and are unable to correct any of the results of such theft, feel free to contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.
by Paul MankinCEO of Debt Collection Agency Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison
Four Star Resolution, LLC’s owner and CEO was sentenced to 100 months in prison in April of 2017 for coercing thousands of consumers into paying more than $31 million to settle alleged debts. Travell Thomas directed associates at his debt collection agency to:
- Inflate the balances of debts owed
- Falsely imply that the collection agency was affiliated with local government and law enforcement agencies, including the “county” and the district attorney’s office
- Tell consumers that they had committed criminal acts, such as “wire fraud” or “check fraud,” and if they did not pay the debt immediately, warrants or other process would be issued, at which point they would be arrested or taken to court
- Falsely claim that consumers would have their driver’s licenses suspended if they did not pay
- Tell consumers that Four Star was a law firm or mediation firm and that Four Star’s employees were working with lawyers, a law firm, mediators, or arbitrators
- Falsely imply that a civil lawsuit would be filed, or was pending
These collection practices are all prohibited by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal Act passed to help protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices of debt collectors.
According to U.S. attorney, Joon H. Kim, “Thomas was the mastermind behind the largest criminal debt collection scheme ever charged.” Of the $31 million Four Star Resolution, LLC took in from its scheme, approximately $1.5 million was paid in cash to Thomas and his co-owner and co-defendant, Maurice Sessum, approximately $1.4 million was withdrawn from banks and ATMs, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were used to pay for Thomas’s gambling expenses, season tickets for professional sports games, his wedding reception, and other personal expenses.
Twelve others associated with Four Star Resolution, LLC were charged and pled guilty to defrauding consumers in connection with the debt collection scheme. The company, which opened in 2009 and operated in Buffalo, New York was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $31 million and was permanently enjoined from participating in any debt collection activities, advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, and selling or buying any consumer or commercial debt or any information regarding a consumer relating to a debt.
If a debt collector is harassing or abusing you in an attempt to collect on a debt, contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.
by Paul MankinPortfolio Recovery is Harassing Me!
Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC is a company that purchases debt from credit card companies for pennies on the dollar. Oftentimes, companies, such as Portfolio Recovery, LLC, who purchase old debt, receive very little information from the original creditor and are therefore unable to prove that the consumer actually owes the debt. This can help make it fairly easy for you to stop collection attempts and or force the company to remove any negative information they may have placed on credit report. You just have to know how to make it happen.
How Do I Stop Portfolio Recovery from Harassing Me?
If Portfolio Recovery is calling you, ask them to mail you debt validation information so you can verify if you owe the debt. If you do not owe the debt, or do not want to be contacted about the debt anymore, write a letter to Portfolio Recovery telling them to stop contacting you. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter for yourself and mail a copy to the Federal Trade Commission at 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20850. After the company receives your letter it should only contact you more time in order to let you know they will stop contacting you and tell you what other action they intend to take.
What To Do if Portfolio Recovery Sues You
If Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC has filed a law suit against you, you will want to make sure that you appear in Court, where it will have to prove that you do in fact owe the debt. If you do not appear, you may get a default judgment entered against you without Portfolio Recovery even having to prove that you actually owe the debt. It may then be able to garnish your wages until the debt is paid in full. If the debt collector can prove that you owe the debt, you may then be able to negotiate a repayment plan and have it approved by the court. You should consider consulting a consumer attorney if any debt collector sues you. They can help determine if you actually owe the debt, negotiate settlement terms, or even get the case dismissed without you ever having to go to court.
If you are being harassed or sued by Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, please contact our office at 1-800-219-3577, for a free, no obligation consultation.