Is identity theaft a very big problem?

[Dave McClung]

Some of the most frequent advertisments on radio are for ways to avoid indentity theft. Yesterday, when one of those ads came on, Linda asked me, "Do you know anyone who has had a problem with identity theft?" I couldn't think of one.

A few years ago, someone hacked into my Facebook Account. It forced me to change my password.

About 15 years ago, someone attempted to use my MasterCard number to buy gasoline. I got a call from MasterCard. They asked where I was and if I had my card in my possession. They cancelled that card and sent me a new one immediately. Nothing was improperly charged to my account.

Other than those incidents, I have had no experience and don't even know of anyone who has had their identity stolen. What has been your experience? Is identity theft a real problem?

[Steven Burton]

I have a friend whose parents had identity problems in the past but they are the only people I know who have had them. I think it is more about a scare tactic to get you to use their product.

[Ryan Scott]

I think identity theft is problematic for people who aren't very careful with their information, especially online.

[Dan Henderson]

Online is actually more secure than phone or in-person. Yes, its a big problem. The main problem comes from the companies who store our information being broken into and our info stolen from the companies. I have gotten my 3d such notice this year.

[Ryan Scott]

Online is actually more secure than phone or in-person. Yes, its a big problem. The main problem comes from the companies who store our information being broken into and our info stolen from the companies. I have gotten my 3d such notice this year.

It's only more secure if you're using secure, reputable sites.

[Steven Burton]

I know the online gaming service provided by Valve call Steam was hacked into not long ago. They say sent out a email quickly telling people to watch their account and they are in the process of protecting all the info stored on there servers. So it does happen and even on a big scale.

[Peggy Gray]

Secure, reputable sites...such as the Federal Thrift Savings Plan?

[Jim Chabot]

I only know of one person who has been the victim of identity theft.

Our son Joshua got an email from ebay (not really) asking him to supply them with updated credit card information. He clicked on the link, provided the information, and within a few days was missing $2600.

We had a long talk about how these things work. And I'm glad to report that this incident was 7 years back when he was in college, no more issues since then. Once stung, twice shy.

[Peggy Gray]

Now Post Offices have recycling containers with covers and slots to prevent someone from picking through the discarded mail, but you should have SEEN the stuff people tossed in the lobby waste basket and recycling tub over the years: bank statements, credit card bills, medical bills, you name it. What were they thinking?

[Dan Henderson]

Secure, reputable sites...such as the Federal Thrift Savings Plan?

Exactly.

[John Kennedy]

About a year and a half ago someone hacked into my bank account and bought $900 worh of airline tickets on Jet Blue. I have my bank accounts online and monitor them daily. I was able to catch things in time, notified airline security and they weren't able to use the tickets.

I had a tax client whose identity was stolen - he racked up several thousand dollars in legal bills getting things straightened out. And in the process one of the outfits chose to solve their part of the problem by issuing him a 1099 for debt cancellation. This, in turn, caused a problem with the IRS which went after him for unreported income. That took a bit to straighten out.

Yeah, I'd say it's enough of problem to warrant pretty close monitoring of accounts.

[John Kennedy]

now post offices have recycling containers with covers and slots to prevent someone from picking through the discarded mail, but you should have seen the stuff people tossed in the lobby waste basket and recycling tub over the years: Bank statements, credit card bills, medical bills, you name it. What were they thinking?

thinking?

[Jim Franklin]

Even as a retiree from JCPENNEY I have cancelled my card with them. I still have my retiree gold card which gives me an extra discount which I can still get when I pay cash. If my bank account was hacked into they would not find enough to make it worth the effort. A couple of weeks ago I got a call saying that Dr. Charles Stanley wished to send me a copy of his magazine or newsletter and was asked my address which I gave the caller but as yet I have received no such periodical so I don't know what to think of that.

[Michael Coblentz]

The IRS has reported more than 500,000 cases of identity theft this year. People stole social security numbers, filled out bogus tax forms, and received returns in the form of debit cards. The cards can't be traced, so there is little the IRS can do. This all came to light, when the real individuals started filling out their tax returns and there was one already on file.

Somehow individuals or groups of people have found a way to get thousands of social security numbers to pull this type of identity theft scheme.