Premier Solutions International

Identity Theft Prevention Tips

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:04:18 +0000

Prevention Tips

Secure your mailbox or retrieve your mail quickly to limit the risk of stolen mail. All outgoing correspondence dealing with finances should be placed into a secure post office mail receptacle.
If your mail has been tampered with or stolen, contact postal authorities and consider yourself at risk.
Only carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport when you need them.
Reduce the number of credit cards you carry to a minimum.
Keep a list of your credit and bank accounts in a secure place. Copy the contents of your wallet and do the same.
Never give personal information over the phone or the internet unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. Never comply with any request for information in connection with a transaction that you did not initiate.
Immediately shred pre-approved credit offers that you don’t use. To request these offers be stopped, call 1-888-567-8688.
Never have your social security or drivers license number printed on checks.
Consider listing only your name and number in the telephone book.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Skilled identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information:

Rummaging through your trash (dumpster diving)
Stealing credit and debit card numbers as they are processed by use of a special information storage device (skimming)
Stealing wallets, purses, and mail
Posing as a legitimate business person or government official

For more information, please find an agent in your area or contact Premier Solutions International.

Why Older Americans are Targeted for Fraud

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:58:44 +0000

Older Americans are the fastest growing segment of the population to be victimized by identity fraud and internet schemes. Every day con artists bombard the telephones, mailboxes and even the email addresses of older Americans.

In addition to the newer kinds of fraud, seniors continue to be victimized by age-old scams such as foreign lotteries, shoddy home improvement work, and investment schemes promising high returns. In many instances, nest eggs are completely wiped out and older Americans’ homes are lost due to these crimes. To compound the problem, the victims are often reluctant to report the crime out of embarrassment or fear that they will lost control over their affairs.

Why are seniors targeted and vulnerable?

There are a number of reasons why older people are targeted by scam artists:
They are more likely to be at home to answer the door or telephone.
They tend to be more trusting and less likely to suspect a con artist.
They are often lonely and susceptible to a friendly pitch.
They may be physically incapable of making their own home repairs, exposing them to pitches from itinerant workers who knock on the door and offer to do repairs cheaply.
They may be on fixed incomes, making them vulnerable to promises of high investment returns or savings on medical care.
They may own their homes free and clear, making them a target of predatory lenders.

What are the most common scams that victimize seniors?

Foreign Lotteries

You receive a call or email advising that you have won a large amount of money in the Canadian or other foreign lottery, but have to send money upfront to pay taxes and fees. Such lotteries are illegal. Sometimes you may be sent a check as partial payment, but the check will be a forgery.

Home Repair or Improvement Scams

Criminals show up uninvited at your door offering to make repairs and then do shoddy work at an exorbitant price. They may also arrange financing through predatory lenders who charge high fees and rates with monthly payments you can’t afford.

Telemarketing Schemes

You receive a call offering a great deal on a product but have to act now to get the benefit. The caller asks for personal and financial information that will then be used to loot your bank account or run up charges on your credit card.

Phishing

You receive an email advising that there is a problem with your bank account and are instructed to click on a hyperlink to another site to provide verification information such as a social security or PIN number. The email and web site look legitimate, often containing the company’s logo, but are fake and the information is then used to steal your identity. Banks and other legitimate companies would never request confidential information in this manner.

Phony Charities

You receive a phone call or personal visit from someone soliciting money for what sounds like a legitimate charity, but is really a scam. Often they appear to be associated with the police or fire departments.

Investment or Healthcare Scams

You receive a call, letter, or email offering above market returns on investments or great savings on medical care. The solicitor is often reluctant to provide details about the company, such as the address, phone number or written documentation.

For more information, please contact Premier Solutions or Find an Agent in your area.

Identity Shield

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:05:35 +0000

More than ever, thieves are working hard to steal your identity. They do not care who is affected with it, young or old. Their main objective is to steal for their own benefit. What can you do to make it harder for the thieves to steal your identity? Know that there are simple measures that you can incorporate in your daily life to prevent thieves from stealing your identity. Believe it or not, what you have earned for years could go down the drain if you are not careful about protecting it.

Identity theft affects millions of people at present. Its debilitating result is more than enough reason for you to guard your identity.

Here are simple but very important measures to take to shield your identity.

1. Social security card must be placed in a safe place in your home not in your wallet. This is where your identity gets stolen when you lost your wallet and/or your wallet gets stolen.

2. All documents with your personal information need to be shredded and not tossed in the trash. Thieves are not hesitant to get dirty to steal your identity.

3. Make it harder for thieves to steal your identity by renting a mail box so that they do not have an easy access to your mails. A mail box that is not locked invites thieves to dig into it without sweating.

4. Invest in a good shredder. A cross-cut one is better.

5. Monitor your credit report, financial statements, and report any unusual activity. To go to the next level in protecting your identity, simply get a company that can show you the odds on how to handle these things.

Learn more about identity theft so you can better guard yourself from this crime. Knowing what to do can guide you how to avoid being a victim. You cannot underestimate the work that needs to be done if you are a victim of identity theft. Prevention is the best route to take. Equip yourself. Discover the benefits of having a legal team on your side today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/identity-theft-simple-measures-to-shield-your-identity-1633950.html

Identity Thieves Tap into Lucrative Tax Fraud

admin — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:44:06 +0000

NBC says this is a “warning for all American taxpayers”. Read NBC News Article

It’s easier to steal from the IRS than a bank, ID thief tells Congress… read full article.

Approximately 155 million tax forms are filed annually. This provides identity thieves with an opportunity to come out of the woodwork and steal from Americans who are just trying to pay their taxes correctly.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

College Internship Program

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:39:26 +0000

College students across the country are gaining valuable sales, marketing and leadership experience through Premier Solutions’ Entry Level Sales and Leadership Program. The PSI Sales Internship has provided eager and determined college interns an unmatched opportunity to learn more about themselves, their sales potential and the world of business. New interns are provided in-depth training courses on the products available through our service providers, strategies on establishing a clientele and methods of executing a successful sale.

The PSI Internship Program will offer resources and training to help you discover and build the skill sets necessary to develop a successful sales career. You’ll receive comprehensive sales training as well as participate in mentoring and joint work programs for hands-on experience. The foundation of our success has been our ability to form enduring relationships with our clients through a needs-based analysis process. This process reflects our belief that over a lifetime, most people and companies will experience many different circumstances in which our services provide the most viable solution.

The Internship Program provides a valuable opportunity to combine virtual classroom learning with real world business experience. Students have the opportunity to work in a real world business environment and earn performance-based compensation.

The Internship Program has led to satisfying careers for many associates. Those who choose other careers find they have grown in self-confidence, communication skills and personal self-management skills through our PSI training and development program.

More information about College Internship.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Top 10 Identity Theft Avoidance Tips

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:56 +0000

Identity theft is often described as one of America’s fastest-growing crimes. In today’s fast-paced world, sensitive information like names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth are precious commodities. Here, we offer some simple actions and tools that consumers can utilize to reduce access to their sensitive information and improve the safeguards around it.

ID Theft Awareness and Avoidance: Top Ten Consumer TipsIdentity theft is often described as one of America’s fastest-growing crimes. In today’s fast-paced world, sensitive information like names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth are precious commodities. Here, we offer some simple actions and tools that consumers can utilize to reduce access to their sensitive information and improve the safeguards around it.

Click Here to Download Top Consumer Tips

Tax Related Identity Theft Scams Up 300%

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:30:08 +0000

Cases of stolen tax returns have surged over the past five years, leaving many identity theft victims struggling to recoup their lost refunds.

A recent Scripps Howard News Service investigation analyzed more than 1.4 million ID theft records from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission from 2005 through early 2010. In it they found that fraud complaints about stolen tax return-related identity theft jumped from 11,010 complaints in 2009 to 33,774 in 2010. That’s nearly 300 percent.

Thieves may steal victims’ refunds, trick them into disclosing Social Security or credit card numbers, or even pose as the IRS. Below is more information for those common and lesser-known tax scams to watch out for.

Employment Identity Theft Scams: If you ever receive documentation in the mail indicating earned income that you are not aware of, it may mean that someone else has used your Social Security number to gain employment.

Account Takeover Scams: If, when filing your tax return, you receive a letter from the IRS saying that you have already filed, it it likely that someone else has filed a fraudulent return on your behalf, in order to steal your refund.

Tax Preparer Scams: In an old scam that’s still in play, tax preparers tell clients they must pay back stimulus payments, and then pocket the money. Ads are also placed by scammers posing as accountants to get your returns. Make sure you do research and choose your tax preparer wisely.

Late Payment Scam: As people fall behind on their taxes, lists are created and are printed in the local paper as public record. Thieves can use these lists to call unassuming people and pose as collectors.

Internet Phishing Scams: The IRS doesn’t send emails. Phony IRS emails that try to lure taxpayers into giving out personal information are a common scam. The messages are generally intended to convince recipients to provide personal or financial information that enables the perpetrators to commit credit card or bank fraud, or other forms of identity theft. Unless you are actively engaged in dialogue with an IRS agent, do not respond to emails or phone calls supposedly coming from the IRS.

IRS Scams: If a scammer posing as an IRS agent ever contacts you, they may already have some of your personal information, which they can use to try to convince you that they are actually from the IRS. This data could come from public records or even your trash. The scammer will often put pressure on you to comply with their request, or even offer you a tax refund.

Here are some suggestions to protect yourself and make sure that you get your return:

1. Protect yourself by filing early. It seems crazy to think that someone would fraudulently file taxes in your name, but it’s being done. Once they find a few W2s or other tax-related documents, they can file in your name and claim your refund before you’ve even begun the process. File before they do.

2. Secure your mail with a locking mailbox. Mail is stolen every day, and tax forms tend to include Social Security numbers, making them especially valuable to a thief. Don’t send out your tax return by sticking it in your home mailbox. Instead, take it to the post office or use a big blue post office drop box.

3. Protect your PC. Whether or not you file online, securing your PCs is essential. Make sure you have updated antivirus software, a two-way firewall, that you run spyware removal software regularly, and that your wireless Internet connection is protected with a network key.

If you are ever a victim of a scam involving the IRS, you may be disappointed by the way it is handled by government agencies. They simply don’t allocate the resources to fix this problem proactively, nor are they adept at responding once it has occurred. The biggest issue is the thief’s privacy. Even if you think you know who is responsible, neither the IRS nor any other government agency will release that information. All you can do is follow the IRS’s instructions for resolving the issue. Be patient, as rectifying it may take many hours, days, or weeks. If you subscribe to an identity theft protection service, a fraud resolution agent may be able to help.

Article source: http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/tax-related-identity-theft-scams-up-300-4379497.html

Myths & Misconceptions about Identity Theft

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:50:35 +0000

What is more detrimental to your identity?

Not understanding identity theft and how it happens

-OR-

Believing, incorrectly, that you understand identity theft based on information you’ve heard from friends, media outlets and marketers?

Actually, both are dangerous areas in which to dwell. Acting on assumptions about identity theft can be just as dangerous as a complete lack of knowledge of the subject.

Get more information on the myths & misconceptions about identity theft.

What Requires a Tax Attorney

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:57:23 +0000

With a little luck you will not ever need the expertise of an IRS tax attorney, despite the fact that it is by no means an awful idea to refer to with one on a normal schedule so that you can have her or him examine your documents to make suggestions. However in the event you in reality need the assistance of a tax attorney, you should definitely devote more time to meeting with a variety of legal professionals so that you can pick one up who is able to tackle your distinctive requirements and with whom you really feel secure. And just before you decide to take advantage of the expertise of a CPA or accountant rather than a tax attorney, keep in mind that a tax attorney is needed to preserve your entire data private while a CPA just isn’t. Check out circumstances where you will probably find yourself that call for the expertise of a tax attorney:

Financial Audits

This is actually the most apparent explanation behind working with a tax attorney. When you are exposed to an audit, the IRS has observed an issue with your tax return. Regardless of whether you put together your taxes yourself or employed an individual to get it done for you, the time has come to engage an IRS tax attorney. Tax attorneys can assist you to browse through the audit procedure and can negotiate in your part.

Even though the IRS would really like you to reckon that tax laws and regulations are monochrome, they truly are not. A tax attorney is aware of this and will make certain that those numerous hues of gray function for your benefit by utilizing loopholes and a finer, present comprehension of tax laws and regulations. A tax attorney will also subject any kind of communication and telephone calls from the IRS, which could get rid of plenty of anxiety from you and release lots of your time. IRS representatives are daunting and apply formidable dialect to terrify taxpayers into basically providing them with almost everything they request devoid of a struggle. Tax attorneys are not afraid of auditors, however, and may communicate with the auditor in your stead.

Unpaid Back Taxes

Individuals who have a shot at doing negotiations with the IRS without the assistance of attorney generally wind up paying out a more substantial portion of the taxes they are obligated to pay compared to individuals who acquire the aid of a tax attorney. For the reason that information and facts you supply to your lawyer is privileged, it is possible to confide in your attorney about precisely why you did not pay taxes to begin with. Along with that data, the attorney can function to help you get the perfect end result.

Article source http://www.articlesbase.com/taxes-articles/what-requires-a-tax-attorney-3377463.html

How to Protect Yourself From ID Theft

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:22:10 +0000

Every year nearly 15 million Americans become victims of Id theft. Identity theft is now the number one consumer complaint made to the Federal Trade Commission.

Studies indicate that over $900 and one hundred and sixty-five hours are spent in restoring accounts after id theft. In order to minimize the chances of being caught, identity thieves churn accounts very often, use as much or as little as quickly as possible and move on to next account. Accounts can be bought on-line for less than a dollar in forums and chat rooms across the web.

ID thieves are lurking.

ID thieves are becoming even more sophisticated, so even more stringent protection is now required.
With the proliferation of social networks that require a profile that is public without much restriction, we should be extremely careful when issuing personal information.
Your identity which is the only thing that is really yours, can be stolen and used in a variety of ways, including drivers licenses,job and credit applications.
Some of the basics in id theft protection include shredding financial documents and paperwork with personal information and removing Social Security cards when they are not needed.
Because we now live in a digital age, where all information can be transformed and stored in digital format, we should be fully aware and utilize extreme caution when entering personal any where on-line.

Protect Your Credit Report

Inspect all financial statements and monitor your credit report regularly. Look for any irregularities or address changes or unrecognized charges that indicate that your account may be subject to takeover.

Monitor your credit card and bank statements for unrecognized transactions.
One of the advantages of online access to your accounts is that it can be done any time. If you can, frequently check your accounts online, this should give a slight edge over identity thieves.

Credit and financial statements are mailed at regular scheduled intervals.

Become aware of the intervals and if a particular statement does not arrive within the expected period, contact the financial institution as this could indicate some interruption or record interception.

Monitor your credit report.

Your report includes your Social Security Number, employers and all debts, even those that are closed. Besides helping you detect account takeover, credit report monitoring can alert you to new and unauthorized accounts that have been opened in your name.

Other uses of Stolen Identity.

Your Stolen Identity can also be used for other non-credit uses such as job applications,or the purchase of services such as cable and telephone. These incidents make id theft a bit harder to detect as they require access to public records.

Thwart the thieves

Your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement should be ordered annually.
Inspect the statement for unrecognized employers – This may indicate that your identity is being used by someone else for a job. Look for unrecognised benefits outlined in the statements from your health insurer..Although there may be no payments required, unrecognised benefits may indicate that your identity is use somewhere to the advantage of receiving benefits.

Seek assistance Crime is a full-time job and protection should also be implemented on a 24-hr basis. There are automated services that implement 24-hr protection, so that you can continue your activities worry-free.

Services available today include real-time monitoring of your records for irregularities and coverage for any expenses involved in recovering your identity.

Everyone is at risk of id-theft. Everyone with a credit card, a bank account, a driver’s license or a Social Security Number is at risk. Everyone who uses the Internet is at risk. Young children, students and adults of all ages are at risk.

Take steps to protect yourself from id-theft. Your identity is the only thing that you can really own.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cyber-law-articles/how-to-protect-yourself-from-id-theft-2904905.html