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The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention

By on May 18th, 2012

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

You don’t need to have a computer to become a victim of identity theft . . . but it helps. Cyber-crimes involving identity theft continue to rise, so you can consider yourself vulnerable if you use the Internet and do not have an ID theft prevention plan. Hackers find new and ingenious ways to steal personal information every day, and the growing instances of data breaches of large institutions’ databases puts sensitive information at risk on a global scale.

Online scammers use numerous tactics to steal identities, including posing as trusted websites to obtain private information they use to open bank accounts, obtain credit, apply for loans, get driver’s licenses, and even use your health insurance, to name a few. Add organized crime and all of the “non-high-tech” ways to steal identities to the mix, and we have an identity theft epidemic that shows no signs of subsiding anytime soon.

But you are anything but helpless in the fight against identity theft. By taking a proactive, vigilant approach to ID theft prevention, you can significantly decrease your chances of becoming a victim. Here are a few high-tech and not-so-high-tech types of identity theft tactics to watch out for, and what you can do (and not do) to prevent identity theft from happening to you:

Prevent Phishing

Phishing occurs when an identity thief sends an email from a familiar and official-looking company (such as your bank or a retailer) and asks you to click on a link to verify or update personal information. The website you are sent to appears identical to the real company’s site, making you feel comfortable about providing your information.

  • ID theft prevention tip: Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails and never provide your personal information unless you absolutely have to. Remember that your bank, credit card company, and other reputable organizations will never ask you to “update” personal data online.

Avoid Hacking

Hacking takes many forms, and often occurs when identity thieves successfully “guess” or decipher your passwords, PINs, or security questions.

  • ID theft prevention tip: Use strong passwords (avoid obvious personal information such as your birth date) and change passwords frequently. Don’t forget about social networking sites, either. Making public personal information such as your birth date, address, and even your high school also makes you vulnerable to hackers.

Guard Against Dumpster Diving

When it comes to identity theft, the old adage that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” couldn’t be more true. Your personal information is a goldmine. Discarded credit card applications, bank account documents, and even the information on medication bottles give identity thieves the opportunity to pose as you in ways that can seriously damage your financial and healthcare information.

  • ID theft prevention tip: Shred all personal documents before throwing them out, don’t leave trash cans out on the curb longer than necessary, and consider paying bills online instead of writing checks.

These are just three of the many cunning methods identity theft criminals use to steal identities, slip away undetected, and then reappear to use that information to their benefit. Whether online or offline, staying proactive and vigilant is critical. Learn more about identity theft by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com and choose the best ID theft prevention and recovery expert today to protect you and your family from identity theft.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400.

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Stories of Child Identity Theft: A Family Affair

By on April 20th, 2012

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S., affecting one out of four people every year according to the FTC. This is a staggering statistic, but even more startling may be the number of victims who are children. The FTC reports that children represent five percent of the victims of identity theft, which equates to about 500,000 child identities stolen each year.

These child identity theft statistics only account for reported cases, which do not tell the whole story. It’s nearly impossible to know the full extent of child identity theft since the vast majority of cases go unreported. This is largely due to the fact that parents and family members are often the culprits, so victims are reluctant to turn them in. The damages are typically higher for children of identity theft because they only discover their identities have been stolen when they reach adulthood and begin trying to acquire credit and loans.

In addition to destroying credit, child identity theft can have a profoundly devastating effect on family relationships as well. These are a few of their stories:

Child Identity Theft Victim Rejected for Home Loan:

Southern California renter Ana Ramirez had to make a choice: report her mother to the police or be able to get a home loan. At the age of 25 she discovered that, according to her credit report, she was a delinquent home owner. On paper, Ana had been in default since she was 10 years old. Her mother stole her identity to take out her own mortgage when Ana was just a child, failed to make payments, and then fell into foreclosure. Ana continues to be a victim because she is unwilling to report her mother to the police, an all too common burden shared by many child identity theft victims. As a result, even though her dream is to one day own a home, Ana is currently unable to qualify for a home loan or obtain credit cards.

Father Escapes Prison and Steals Son’s Identity:

When he was 15, Chip St. Clair’s parents stole his identity to take out nearly $50,000 in car loans, apartment leases, utilities, and student loans over the course of three years. He didn’t find out he was yet another child identity theft victim until he was 22 and learned that is father was charged with escaping from an Indiana state prison in the 1970s. Chip’s father used his identity to create a new one for himself, and Chip has spent over a decade tirelessly trying to remove student loans and fraudulent charges from his credit report while paying high-interest rates on loans because of his poor credit.

Mother Steals Two-Year-Old Daughter’s Identity:

Jeff Ramey began receiving calls from creditors eight years ago, asking to speak with his daughter who was only five years old. Jeff pulled her credit report and found eight credit cards in her name dating back to when she was two. The worst part may have been that the culprit was the girl’s mother who was arrested several years later and, after trial, was ordered to pay off the $5,000 credit card debt in her daughter’s name.

Too Young to Have a Credit Report:

Diamond Daye’s credit report showed that she applied for cell phones, cable, credit cards, and other credit, and that the bills had been sent to collection agencies. But Diamond was only 13, so she shouldn’t have had a credit report. Her parents had separated several years earlier and it turned out that her mother was the identity thief. The mother’s cousin eventually tipped-off Diamond’s father that she was using her daughter’s Social Security number to obtain credit whenever she needed it.

Preventing Identity Theft:

Although child victims of identity theft are helpless to fight for themselves, once the ID theft is discovered there are many proactive ways to begin preventing further crimes, such as keeping copies of credit card information in a safe place, obtaining credit reports from the three major credit bureaus once a year, and implementing credit freezes.

In addition to these preventative measures, the most effective way to avoid all forms of identity theft is to enroll in a trusted identity theft prevention program. Entrust America is an identity theft prevention specialist that offers law enforcement grade protection and guarantees restoration of identities to pre-theft status.

Learn more about preventing identity theft by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400.

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5 Tips for Preventing Child Identity Theft

By on March 25th, 2012

Think your child isn’t at risk of becoming yet another victim of identity theft? Think again. The FTC estimates that over 140,000 children are victims of identity theft every year, and the Carnegie Mellon University CyLab Child ID Theft Report showed that children are 51 times more likely to experience identity theft than adults.

Preventing child identity theft can be difficult because kids are easier targets than adults. Their Social Security numbers are unused so it’s easier to associate different names and birth dates with them. Their identities are typically a blank slate and the likelihood of discovery is low since most parents don’t monitor their children’s identities.

The crime can go unnoticed for many years, often until they try to open a bank account or apply for a driver’s license, job, student loan, or credit as a young adult. By then their identity could have been stolen and sold multiple times by thieves using it to obtain credit cards, insurance, medical services, employment, housing, passports, government benefits, and loans. The list goes on and on.

Safeguarding your child from identity theft begins with recognizing the signs, such as receiving unsolicited credit card offers or bills in his or her name. Here are five tips for preventing child identity theft:

  1. Don’t disclose Social Security numbers. Your child’s Social Security number is the most important piece of personal information to protect. If an organization requests your child’s Social Security number, ask how it will be used and how it will be protected. As the prevalence of identity theft has grown, providing a Social Security number is typically not required unless there are tax implications.
  2. Request your child’s credit report. The credit reporting agencies don’t keep credit reports for minors because they aren’t allowed to open lines of credit. If your child has a credit report, you know identity theft has been committed.
  3. Get a crosscut shredder and put it to work. Shred all documents you receive in the mail that contain your child’s personal information. Remember that mail such as unsolicited credit card offers are indicators of child identity theft, so shred these documents right away. (Don’t forget to do this for yourself as well.) Then contact the credit bureaus to see if there’s a credit file in your child’s name.
  4. Don’t carry around your child’s Social Security number. Preventing child identity theft also includes locking up his or her Social Security number with other important personal identity records such as birth certificates and passports, and only access it when you absolutely need it. Locking up all private information is generally a good idea to prevent houseguests or babysitters from viewing it.
  5. Monitor your child’s social networking accounts. Identity thieves troll social networking websites, so make sure private information like date of birth, address, and names of family members are not included in profiles. It’s also a good idea to set privacy settings so your child’s profile can only be viewed by friends and family.

In addition to these do-it-yourself precautions, you can start proactively preventing child identity theft by relying on a trusted company like Entrust America. Entrust America will protect you and your family from all forms of identity theft, and is the only company with a proprietary partnership with law enforcement nationwide to recover identities and ensure you get back to pre-theft status.

Learn more about preventing child identity theft by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400.

Medical Identity Theft No comments yet

Hackers and the Growing Threat of Medical Identity Theft

By on February 18th, 2012

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Everyone has heard of hacking. It’s in the news all the time, often related to large corporations being hacked for their data. Since the reports are about corporations, as individuals it can seem like someone else’s problem.

But the information being stolen could be yours. Your Social Security number, credit card information, medical information—and pretty much any other personal data you can think of—can be hacked. If it does, your identity could be used to rack-up thousands of dollars of debt that you only find out about months later. On average, restoring your good name can take as much as 6,000 hours as well.

One of the most devastating and potentially deadly forms of data breaches involves stolen electronic medical records and the resulting medical identity theft. Hackers can wreak havoc by stealing your personal health information to either sell or use themselves to impersonate you when they need medical treatment. If an identity thief gets medical treatment using your name, the thief’s medical information—such as test results, allergies, blood type, or illnesses—will become part of your medical file. Certain conditions or procedures performed using your good name can prevent you from being able to get health insurance or even receive the medical help you need.

Here are a few of the many medical data breaches where hackers have left their indelible mark:

  • A December 2011 report by the Privacy Right Clearinghouse Sensitive estimated that three of the six largest data breaches in 2011 compromised 11 million patient records and healthcare organizations
  • According to the Ponemon Institute, healthcare data breaches alone were up 32 percent and the average data breach loss cost $7.2 million in 2010
  • The Identity Theft Resource Center stated that the theft of medical data increased by 50 percent in 2011
  • 385 protected health information (PHI) breaches have affected over 19 million records since 2009
  • Medical records accounted for more than one third of all records lost to data breaches in 2011
  • According to Redspin, there was a 97 percent increase in medical records breached in 2011 compared to 2010

These statistics are scary, to say the least. From individuals to private practices to large corporations, medical identity theft can do irreparable harm. But it doesn’t have to. One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your business from medical identity theft is to be proactive. Enrolling in a service such as Entrust America, the only identity theft prevention and recovery service with a 100% track record of recovering stolen identities over the past five years, is the best way to safeguard your identity.

Entrust America’s medical identity theft prevention and recovery services include:

  • A 24/7 hotline to call if you suspect you have been a victim of medical identity theft. Entrust America’s on-call identity theft specialists quickly determine whether a fraud has occurred and, if so, which of the over forty different kinds of identity theft have been committed.
  • Overnighting an ID Theft Resolution Kit that includes forms to be submitted to the IRS, DMV, Social Security Administration, and the three credit reporting agencies to notify them that a theft has occurred.
  • Reporting the medical identity theft to your local authorities and creditors, requesting that creditors cancel existing cards and issue new ones, and placing a security freeze on your credit records that lasts for seven years.
  • Contacting you with status updates whenever there is activity on your case, and following-up with creditors to ensure they properly repair your accounts.
  • Recovery specialists who are all law enforcement professionals. They have the time and expertise to immediately launch a full investigation into your medical identity theft, completely reverse damages, and bring the identity thieves to justice.
  • Recovery of your identity to pre-theft status. No other identity theft prevention and recovery company has a better track record of reducing the likelihood of your identity being compromised. Entrust America gives you total peace of mind.

Entrust America is not just for individuals. Professional medical practices and corporations alike can protect themselves from data breaches that can cost millions of dollars and put patients and employees at risk.

Learn more about how to prevent medical identity theft and medical data breaches by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She is the president of The Identity Advocate, which teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft, medical identity theft, and healthcare fraud. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400.

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Protect Yourself From Becoming a Victim of Crimes You Don’t Commit

By on January 6th, 2012

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

As the fastest growing and one of the most insidious consumer crimes in the United States, identity theft affects nearly ten million people every year. That’s about 30,000 identities stolen every day. These are alarming statistics, but even worse is that some of these identity theft victims are arrested for crimes committed in their good name.

Take, for example, a case in which an Indiana man named Jeff Goldsmith was arrested for allegedly abusing his girlfriend’s six-year-old son so badly that the child had to go to the hospital. Trouble is, Goldsmith didn’t have a girlfriend, let alone a six-year-old son. In fact, he had been married for twenty years and hadn’t visited the city where the alleged abuse occurred in over two years. The identity thief used Goldsmith’s identity to rack up charges and then subsequently commit a brutal crime—all in Goldsmith’s name. After seeing Goldsmith the mother of the actual victim confirmed that he indeed was not the man who abused her son. In like so many other identity theft cases, the real criminal remains unidentified.

Looking back, Goldsmith realized that he could have avoided becoming an identity theft victim if he would have paid more attention to the warning signs. He had received a phone bill and an insurance bill for a vehicle he didn’t own. After calling the companies to clear-up the charges, Goldsmith signed-up for identity theft insurance and began monitoring his credit reports more closely. Unfortunately for Goldsmith, the identity thief was able to continue to use his identity to commit fraud and elude police following the abuse allegations.

But what about the identity theft insurance? And the credit monitoring? Goldsmith found out the hard way that identity theft insurance only covers some of the expenses to deal with the aftermath of identity theft. It does nothing to prevent it. Credit monitoring, although important, only shows unauthorized charges and damages after they have occurred. So, what could Goldsmith have done to avoid becoming another identity theft victim?

He could have been more proactive. Most identity theft protection companies only monitor credit and send alerts when someone’s credit is checked. Of course, this often occurs for completely legitimate reasons as well, such as when someone (using his or her real identity) applies for a loan. Credit monitoring services and ID theft insurance companies simply do not address the root of the problem—before it becomes a real problem and claims another identity theft victim.

After all, one of the problems with identity theft is that once you’re a victim you’re guilty until proven innocent. Police officers are simply doing their jobs when they arrest identity theft victims. But the fallout for the victims can be devastating. Studies show that it can take three to five years and more than $1,300 to restore a stolen identity.

The only real solution is to use an identity theft prevention and recovery service that proactively prevents identity theft from occurring in the first place. Entrust America, a company that was created by law enforcement professionals for law enforcement, is the only service that both prevents identity theft and guarantees to restore identity theft victims to pre-theft status.

Too many identity theft victims unknowingly put their trust in services that masquerade as ID theft prevention or, worse, do not invest in a service to protect their identity at all. As in the tragic case of Jeff Goldsmith, it’s obvious how the right identity theft prevention service could have prevented his nightmare.

Don’t become another identity theft victim. Learn more about protecting your identity by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate or calling 310.831.4400. Start protecting your identity today by signing-up for the best identity theft prevention and recovery service on the market.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is a healthcare fraud and ID theft prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.

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ID Theft Prevention During the Holidays

By on November 14th, 2011

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Of all the things on your Christmas wish list this year, identity theft is probably not one of them. But if you weren’t one of the millions of people who had their identities stolen this year, you certainly have a reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

According to Javelin Strategy & Research’s 2011 Identity Fraud Survey Report on ID theft prevention, the number of identity theft victims actually decreased by 28% from 2010 to 2011. That might sound like a positive statistic until you know that 8.1 million adults in the United States reported their identity was stolen in 2011. In fact, identity theft is still the fastest growing crime in America. Part of the decrease can be attributed to consumers enrolling in ID theft prevention and recovery services such as Entrust America.

But before we dig deeper into the benefits of ID theft prevention services, let’s first take a look at a few of the most prevalent forms of identity theft during the holidays and what you can do to protect yourself:

  • Phishing: Phishing is one of the costliest forms of identity theft. It occurs when identity thieves make carbon copies of trusted websites and branded email communications used by banks, retailers, and other businesses to trick you into providing financial information. If you make a purchase through a website, make sure it is secure by verifying that the URL has an “s” after the “http” so that it reads https://. The “s” means there is a secure connection. Also, never provide personal information in email correspondence (entities like your bank will never ask for private information like your Social Security number in an email).
  • Electronic pickpockets: There was a time not too long ago when you only had to worry about a pickpocket stealing your wallet. These days advanced technology has made it much easier for thieves to get their hands on your personal information. Electronic credit card readers allow identity thieves to scan and steal your credit card information. You won’t even know it’s happened until you check your bank account. Thieves place a device within the frame of the card slot that collects your information. Although this type of ID theft is difficult to prevent, you can reduce the risk by only withdrawing funds from your bank’s ATM and avoiding ATMs at malls and other high-traffic locations.
  • Credit cards: Always monitor your statements, but especially during the holidays when your identity is most vulnerable. Use credit cards rather than debit cards whenever possible because credit card companies can suspend payments, whereas debit cards are essentially like cash and it can be more difficult to restore funds.
  • Important numbers: Choose passwords carefully. Don’t use birthdates, pet names, or other identifiable information, as sophisticated identity thieves can easily crack these passwords and expose you to identity theft. Never keep your Social Security number, checking account number, or PIN in your wallet. Store them in a safe place at home.
  • Facebook: We all know that Facebook is one of the most popular social media websites in the world. While it’s a great way to keep in touch with family, friends, and businesses, Facebook also is a hotbed for identity theft—especially during the holidays when people are exchanging season’s greetings. Limit the amount of personal information you provide on your profile. Never make public your birth date or contact information. The best way to ensure your profile won’t be seen by the prying eyes of identity thieves is to make it private so only your friends and family can see your posts.
  • Shred, shred, shred: We get junk mail all year round but it increases during the holidays when retailers and credit card companies are offering “special deals.” Shred any letters or offers that contain personal information.

Identity theft is a huge problem and without ID theft prevention—especially during the holidays—you may have to spend countless hours next year trying to restore your identity. More purchasing activity during the holidays combined with unaware consumers creates an ideal hunting ground for identity thieves.

The best thing you can do today to begin protecting your identity is to enroll in an ID theft prevention service. But not all of these services were created equal. The Identity Advocate only endorses one identity theft prevention and recovery service: Entrust America. It’s the only company with a 100% track record of recovering stolen identities over the past five years.

The holidays are approaching just as fast as identity thieves’ new strategies for stealing your identity. Safeguard your identity during the holidays and all year long by signing-up for the best ID theft prevention and recovery service. Learn more about what you can do to protect your identity by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is a healthcare fraud and ID theft prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.

Identity Theft 1 comment

ID Theft Prevention and Recovery Service: Are You Protected?

By on November 2nd, 2011

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Identity theft is the fastest growing consumer crime in the United States. According to the Federal Trade Commission, approximately 9.3 million individuals are victimized by the crime every year, so it’s no wonder that more and more people are turning to ID theft prevention services to safeguard their identities. But consumers aren’t the only ones at risk. Any size business, whether a giant corporation or a small business, must be vigilant to protect themselves from identity theft.

ID Theft Prevention Service Vs. ID Theft Insurance Vs. Credit Checks

Identity theft experts agree that using an ID theft prevention service is the most effective way to protect against identity theft, but note that consumers and companies can also take matters into their own hands by using common sense to protect their identities. Some preventative measures include keeping copies of credit card information in a safe place, obtaining their credit reports from the three major credit bureaus once a year, and implementing credit freezes.

Some identity theft experts also recommend purchasing identity theft insurance, but the benefits of an ID theft prevention service far outweigh the benefits of identity theft insurance. The insurance covers some of the expenses to deal with the aftermath of identity theft, but it does nothing to prevent it. Even the National Association of Insurance Commissioners states that identity theft insurance “cannot protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft and does not cover direct monetary losses incurred as a result of identity theft.”

Instead of insurance, consumers, corporations, and small businesses should invest in an identity theft prevention and recovery service that is proactive and provides comprehensive protection against ID theft. There are many competing identity theft prevention services out there, and not all of them offer the same level of service.

The Most Effective ID Theft Prevention and Recovery Service

The Identity Advocate has been researching the best of the best services for preventing identity theft and what to do if it happens to you. We believe the most proficient and comprehensive identity theft prevention and recovery service in the marketplace is Entrust America. It is the only identity theft protection company with a 100% track record of recovering stolen identities over the past five years of providing ID theft prevention services to corporations and consumers alike.

One of the most unique things about Entrust America is that the company has a proprietary partnership with law enforcement nationwide. The company’s network of law enforcement professionals recovers identities and ensures clients across the entire United States get back to pre-theft status. As law enforcement professionals they also have the ability to get fast and accurate results that would be nearly impossible for victims to achieve on their own. In addition to providing identity theft protection and recovery services, Entrust America pursues and assists with the prosecution of ID theft perpetrators.

Entrust America’s ID theft prevention services include:

  • A 24/7 hotline for members to call if they suspect they have been a victim of ID theft. Most competitors do not offer round-the-clock support. These on-call identity theft specialists quickly determine whether a fraud has occurred and, if so, which of the over 40 different kinds of identity theft have been committed.
  • Overnighting an ID Theft Resolution Kit that includes forms to be submitted to the IRS, DMV, Social Security Administration, and the three credit reporting agencies. An identity theft affidavit and forms specific to the type of ID theft are also included.
  • Reporting the identity theft to members’ local authorities and creditors, requesting that creditors cancel existing cards and issue new ones, and placing a security freeze on members’ credit records that lasts for seven years. Other ID theft prevention services only place a credit freeze on records for 90 days (if they offer this service at all).
  • Contacting members with status updates whenever there is activity on the case, and following-up with creditors to ensure that they properly repair the members’ accounts.
  • Recovery specialist who are all law enforcement professionals. They have the time and expertise to immediately launch a full investigation into the identity theft, completely reverse damages, and bring the identity thieves to justice.
  • 100% recovery of members’ identity to pre-theft status. No other ID theft prevention and recovery company has a better track record of reducing the likelihood of a member’s identity being compromised. Entrust America gives members total peace of mind.

These are just a few of the many ID theft prevention and recovery services Entrust America provides its members. Learn more about Entrust America and the comprehensive services the company provides consumers and corporations to prevent and recover from identity theft by visiting www.EntrustAmerica.com.

Entrust America is the only ID theft prevention service endorsed by The Identity Advocate, a leader in the education, training, consulting, and investigation of identity theft. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400 for more information. Sign-up for the best ID theft prevention and recovery service here to begin protecting yourself today.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.

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How to Choose an ID Theft Prevention Service

By on September 23rd, 2011

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Most of us know the prevalence, dangers, and consequences of identity theft. It is the fastest growing white-collar crime. To proactively combat identity theft, more and more people are turning to ID theft prevention services to regularly monitor fraudulent activity.

Unfortunately, not all identity theft prevention services are the same, and selecting the best one for you can be confusing and frustrating. There are dozens to choose from and each offers varying levels of protection for a monthly fee.

Before you even start shopping for an ID theft prevention service, it’s important to know that there are many things you can do to proactively defend against identity theft at no cost. For example, you can monitor your credit for free once per year with each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, and can implement a credit freeze to prevent any new accounts from being opened in your name.

One form of identity theft you can’t directly guard against is a data breach, which occurs when an identity thief hacks into the database of an organization that has your personal information on file (such as a bank or a doctor’s office). There were 662 data breaches in 2010 according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, up from 498 in 2009, proving that no one is immune to identity theft.

Considering the growing threats, subscribing to an ID theft prevention service is definitely a good idea. But before you decide to pay for one, do your research and ask whether the service:

  • Offers monthly, weekly, daily, or even real-time credit monitoring. Time is not on your side when your identity is stolen, so real-time or at least daily credit monitoring is recommended.
  • Provides ID theft prevention services, such as setting-up fraud alerts, obtaining credit bureau reports, and monitoring credit card activity. Although you could complete these services yourself for free, it’s a time-saver to have them performed by the ID theft prevention service.
  • Monitors all three credit reporting bureaus. Some services only monitor one of the three agencies, which isn’t enough protection when you consider that a potential creditor usually only checks with one of them.
  • Provides unlimited access to your credit scores. Keep in mind that many ID theft prevention services do not provide access to your FICO score.
  • Has customer support. Live representatives should be available 24/7 if you suspect a problem.
  • Provides identity theft insurance. Although it does not cover damages resulting from identity theft, ID theft insurance reimburses the costs involved in restoring your identity.
  • Offers recovery assistance. Services vary greatly, and you want to know how much help you can expect in the event of identity theft. Some services only provide you with fraud affidavits to complete, while others actually contact creditors, law enforcement agencies, and other entities on your behalf.

You will also want to compare costs of the various ID theft prevention services, remembering that the price doesn’t necessarily reflect the level and effectiveness of the service.

With all of the ID theft prevention services available, choosing the best option can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be. Professional practices and individuals alike turn to The Identity Advocate to rest easier. Get tips to start protecting your identity by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.

Healthcare Fraud No comments yet

Patient Recruiters and the Anatomy of a Healthcare Scam

By on August 18th, 2011

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Healthcare scams are constantly evolving and costing tax payers billions of dollars, most of which will probably never be recovered. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ strike force operations have obtained over 1,000 indictments for individuals who have fraudulently billed Medicare for more than $2.3 billion since March 2007.

A healthcare scam is the premeditated fraud carried out by a provider, hospital, clinic, employer group, member, or other group or individual for illegal financial gain. Fraud takes many forms, and can involve what are known as “cappers,” or patient recruiters who literally recruit patients to become part of a healthcare scam designed to bilk millions out of the Medicare program.

Here’s how a typical healthcare scam involving patient recruiters works:

  1. A clinic owner pays patient recruiters $100 for every patient they send to the clinic for testing or to receive a medical procedure
  2. The patient recruiter approaches individuals who are easy targets, especially poor people and even the homeless, and pays them $50 to provide their Medicare number and submit to unnecessary testing or other healthcare service
  3. The patient recruiter pockets $50 per individual
  4. The clinic bills Medicare for millions of dollars for patients they have never seen
  5. Medicare pays millions of dollars to the fictitious clinics, some of which may even be Medicare certified
  6. Taxpayers foot the bill for tests or procedures that were never actually performed

Uncovering a healthcare scam is difficult because everyone involved in the scam is getting rich. The doctors, clinic owners, and patients receiving kickbacks receive a steady stream of fraudulently obtained income. Insurers can even profit from a healthcare scam because they can raise premiums to cover their costs. Essentially, everybody but the American taxpayer benefits from a healthcare scam.

But authorities are working hard to stop healthcare scams and, in many instances, have been instrumental in securing the convictions of unscrupulous doctors, clinics, and patient recruiters all over the country. For example, a patient recruiter for a Houston durable medical equipment (DME) company was recently convicted of a healthcare scam involving power wheelchairs. The patient recruiter was paid kickbacks for providing the DME company with the Medicare numbers of beneficiaries, often totaling more than $6,000 per chair. The patient recruiter faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for healthcare fraud and related charges.

In another healthcare scam, several California hospitals, their executive officers, and other individuals were recently charged with recruiting homeless people for unnecessary medical procedures for which they billed Medi-Cal and Medicare millions of dollars. Since they were preying on the very poor who needed the money and had no reason to expose the scheme, the scammers assumed they would never be caught. After several months the healthcare scam was finally stopped by police officers who initially suspected a homeless dumping scheme, but a subsequent investigation determined the homeless individuals were actually recruits in the hospitals’ lucrative healthcare scam.

In an alleged healthcare scam that has yet to go to trial, eight people associated with Orange County’s Unity Outpatient Surgery Center have been charged with insurance fraud, theft, and conspiracy. The lawsuit accuses the center of recruiting patients to “come to the clinics and undergo completely unnecessary diagnostic and surgical procedures, so that the clinics and the surgeons could submit phony insurance claims.” An investigation alleges that the Unity clinic billed nearly $97 million to insurers in less than a year.

These are just a few of the many healthcare scams carried out each year that cost taxpayers millions of dollars and ultimately damage our already embattled healthcare system. As long as there are healthcare providers willing to pay patient recruiters to deliver people to their doorsteps for cash, we will all continue to pay exorbitant sums to finance their fraudulent operations.

If you’re a doctor, owner of a clinic, hospital administrator, or other healthcare provider who wants to learn more about spotting and stopping a healthcare scam, visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or call 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.

Healthcare Fraud No comments yet

5 Steps for Preventing Healthcare Fraud and Abuse at Hospice and Homecare Agencies

By on August 18th, 2011

By Linda Vincent, The Identity Advocate

Providing quality care and comfort to patients is the primary concern of hospice and homecare agencies. Unfortunately, it’s not the only one. Owners also need to be proactive and vigilant to ensure they are preventing healthcare fraud and abuse.

Whether the fraud is an accident due to negligence or a scam carried out by an unscrupulous employee, hospice and homecare owners must take precautions to legally and financially protect their businesses. The process of safeguarding themselves, their agencies, and their patients begins and ends with their employees. From nurses to accountants to receptionists, healthcare fraud and abuse can be carried out by anyone at any level of the organization.

Here are five steps hospice and homecare agencies can take today to start preventing healthcare fraud and abuse:

  1. Implement internal controls: A hospice or homecare agency cannot operate effectively without a defined set of internal controls that ensure compliance with laws and regulations, accurate financial reports, asset protection, and other measures. Essential healthcare fraud and abuse policies and procedures include defining access and authorization controls, as well as separating duties to reduce opportunities for fraud to occur.
  2. Hire honest people: This should go without saying, but it can’t be said often enough. When there’s a shortage of quality caregivers and an increase in patients, it’s easier to rely on trust rather than facts. Unfortunately, trust or a “gut-feeling” isn’t enough in the hiring process, especially when a hospice or homecare agency can be bankrupted by just one scam artist. Preventing healthcare fraud and abuse therefore must include background checks on all employees. This includes:
    • Employment verification of companies, positions, performance, length of employment, and reasons for leaving
    • Education verification, including trainings and accreditations
    • Checking criminal and civil records for fraud and other crimes
  1. Educate employees: Hospice and homecare owners must inform employees about their policies and procedures for preventing healthcare fraud and abuse, including the internal controls in place and the consequences of violating them. Employees should sign a form to confirm their receipt of this material, and should undergo regular training on topics related to healthcare fraud. A healthcare fraud and abuse expert can provide a “Lunch and Learn” presentation to educate employees on the threats of fraud and what they can do to prevent it.
  2. Institute an employee hotline: A confidential system for employees, vendors, patients, and family members to anonymously report suspicious activity is a simple but effective way to prevent healthcare fraud and abuse.
  3. Perform audits: Hospice and homecare agencies should receive annual audits of their financials and operations. Agencies should also conduct random, unannounced audits and fraud assessments to discover vulnerabilities. Random audits also let employees know that preventing healthcare fraud and abuse is a high priority.

These are just a few of the ways a hospice or homecare agency can safeguard itself from the devastating ramifications of fraud. To learn more about how to protect your hospice or homecare agency, and to prevent healthcare fraud and abuse, schedule a “Lunch and Learn” by visiting www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

Linda Vincent, R.N., P.I., is an identity theft and healthcare fraud prevention expert specializing in medical consulting and investigations. She teaches corporations, professional practices, and consumers how to stop identity theft and healthcare fraud. Call The Identity Advocate at 310.831.4400 or email info@theidentityadvocate.com. Visit www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com.