SARASOTA, Fla. 6/17/2008 8:00:00 PM
Identity Theft Protection Expert and One You Security: Dumpster Divers Thrive on Social Security Numbers and Other Valuable Information Found Printed on Tossed Documents
(One You Security) Continually topping the news have been reports of malicious dumpster diving incidents whereby identity thieves go through the trash to find documents containing Social Security numbers and other information. But dumpster divers' bounty is useless when the consumers whose information they obtain avail themselves of identity theft prevention services beforehand, according to Robert Siciliano, widely televised and quoted identity theft protection expert and chief security analyst for One You Security, LLC (http://www.OneYou.com). The firm not only helps its subscribers to render their Social Security numbers useless to thieves, but also provides them with ongoing education on identity theft prevention.
"Thieves are always going to obtain Social Security numbers," said Siciliano. "The key to combating this is to promote awareness about identity theft prevention. Smart consumers will then begin to recognize the peril that their personal data is in -- especially when it's tossed into the recycling bin. 'Unshredded,' their documents are a treasure for thieves, who all too often comb garbage repositories everywhere for the very purpose of finding paper files with the valuable information they need to commit crimes."
Chief security analyst for One You Security and a member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report's editorial board, Siciliano leads Fortune 500 companies and their clients through consumer education workshops that explore security solutions for business and individuals. A longtime identity theft prevention speaker, he has discussed data security and consumer protection on CNBC, on NBC's "Today Show," FOX News Network, and elsewhere.
A May 10th article in the Herald Tribune reported that hard copy data records on customers who had visited the closed storefront in Brandenton, Fla., for RentWay (now part of Rent-a-Center) were found in a garbage dumpster adjacent to the location's parking lot. "Photocopies of Social Security cards and driver's licenses, credit card numbers, home addresses and phone numbers of people who leased furniture, TVs and appliances" were among the files discovered, according to the article, which also quoted Siciliano.
The incident took place just 13 miles outside of Sarasota, Fla., home to One You Security, a firm whose service wraps a security system around the consumer's identity, shielding it from thieves and greatly reducing wrongdoers' lines of attack. One You Security backs up its offering with a 100 percent service guarantee. Subscribers also benefit from identity theft education material such as newsletters and Siciliano's special alerts (including video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLylU5xflx8), designed to inform them of the latest data breaches and to help them avoid the scams and practices of identity thieves.
"Low barriers to entry in money lending have led to unintended consequences beyond the rise in home foreclosure rates and the closure of subprime mortgage lending offices," said Chris Harris, president and CEO of One You Security. "Thieves will dive dumpsters to retrieve forgotten credit applications and other information left behind. Any consumer who has provided information to anyone, whether for a credit card, for a mortgage, or even for renting a lawn mower, needs an identity theft protection service. There's literally no way for even the savviest consumer to lead a productive life and monitor his or her family's sensitive information for fraud at the same time. That is a 24-hour job, one for an organization up to the task."
YouTube video shows Siciliano on FOX News Network, where he explains how thieves were able to crack the computers of Hannaford Bros., a grocery chain that operates 165 stores in the Northeast, to obtain the credit card and debit card numbers of millions of customers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKoI07bj_H8
A collection of videos at VideoJug features Siciliano sharing advice on how consumers can protect themselves from identity theft and fraud:
http://www.videojug.com/search?keywords=siciliano
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About One You Security, LLC
Sarasota, Fla.-based One You Security's mission is to eliminate the threat and consequences of identity theft. For just $10 per month, anyone can sign up for One You Security's identity theft protection service, a proactive, preventative approach whereby the company activates and manages its customers' fraud alerts with major credit bureaus. Subscribers also receive full access to ongoing education from identity theft protection expert Robert Siciliano, chief security analyst for One You Security (http://www.OneYou.com), which backs up its promise to protect clients' financial identities with a 100 percent service guarantee. To sign up for One You Security, dial 1-800-434-2010.
About IDTheftSecurity.com
Identity theft affects us all, and Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com (http://www.IDTheftSecurity.com), chief security analyst for One You Security, and member of the Bank Fraud & IT Security Report's editorial board, makes it his mission to provide consumer education solutions on identity theft to Fortune 500 companies and their clients. Author of "The Safety Minute: 01" and leader of personal safety and security seminars nationwide, Siciliano has been featured on "The Today Show," CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX News Network, "The Suze Orman Show," "The Montel Williams Show," "Maury Povich," "Sally Jesse Raphael," "The Howard Stern Show," and "Inside Edition." Numerous magazines, print news outlets, and wire services have turned to him, as well, for expert commentary on personal security and identity theft protection. These include Forbes, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Woman's Day, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, United Press International, Reuters, and others. For more information, visit Siciliano's Web site (http://www.idtheftsecurity.com/), blog (http://www.realtysecurity.com/blog), and YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/stungundotcom).
The media are encouraged to get in touch with any of the following individuals:
Chris Harris
President & CEO of One You Security
PHONE: 941-342-0500 (x231)
chris@oneyou.com
http://www.oneyou.com
Robert Siciliano
CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com
Chief Security Analyst for One You Security
PHONE: 888-SICILIANO (742-4542)
FAX: 877-2-FAX-NOW (232-9669)
Robert@IDTheftSecurity.com
http://www.idtheftsecurity.com
Brent Skinner
President & CEO of STETrevisions
PHONE: 617-875-4859
FAX: 866-663-6557
BrentSkinner@STETrevisions.com
http://www.STETrevisions.com
http://www.brentskinner.blogspot.com
