Benford Spreadsheet   Fraud Awareness   As technology allows our world to become smaller and busier, fraud becomes a more persistant problem.  From the Internet threats of phishing and pharming, to workplace threats of employee theft and even to very personal threats like identity theft and siblings stealing from elderly parents, everyone needs to be aware of the different levels of fraud, ramifications, and prevention.  Know how to not become a victim!    Nancy Wonderlich Koonce, a certified fraud examiner, has written several Fraud Fables based on actual events.  Though fictionalized, it is important to realize the inner lesson and see if there are actions that you need to keep yourself protected.   Check out more case studies and fraud schemes here.   Don't think you should be concerned about fraud?  Read our PDF file below before you decide.  Adobe Reader 5.0 or higher required.  Click here to get Adobe Reader now. Fraud Presentation   Does your firm have a Corporate Fraud Policy in place? Don't be caught off guard. A sample fraud policy would spell out what fraud is, who is responsible for investigating fraud, reporting and confidentiality procedures and follow up steps, such as termination of the person involved. To access a sample corporate fraud policy from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, go to Also, check out the National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org     http://www.cfenet.com/pdfs/Sample_Fraud_Policy.pdf.

Tips for Identity Theft Victims 1.       Protect Yourself - Make sure a security alert or victim statement is on file with all national credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). 2.       Inform the Creditor - Contact each creditor with a fraud account and inform them that the account is fraudulent. 3.       Document all Contacts - Make notes of everyone you speak with; ask for names, department names, phone extensions, etc. and record the date you speak with them. 4.       Understand the Process - Each creditor may have a different process for handling a fraud claim.  Make sure you understand exactly what is expected from you, and then ask what you can expect from the creditor.  At the conclusion of an investigation, ask the creditor for a document that states you are not responsible for the debt. 5.       Follow-Up - Make sure everything a creditor/credit bureau has requested is received.  It is always a good idea to place a cal or send a letter for confirmation. 6.       Review Reports Regularly - Obtain another report several months after you believe everything is cleared up.  If another fraudulent account is discovered, you know how to handle it.  If your credit report is back to normal, you can feel confident that all issues were resolved as you expected.  It would be a good idea to check your report again in six months, and then annually after that. 7.       Don't Throw Away Files - Keep all notes and correspondence in an accessible file in case they are needed in the future.

20 tips to reduce the risk of identity theft: 1.       Do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse.  This minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal.   2.       Do not carry other cards in your wallet or purse that contain your Social Security number (SSN) (insurance cards, etc.) except on days when you need them.   3.       Install a locked mailbox are your residence to deter theft.  Or use a post office box or a commercial mailbox service.  When you are away from home for an extended time, have your mail held at the Post Office, or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up.   4.       When ordering new checks, pick them up at the bank.  Don't have them mailed to your home.  If you have a post office box, use that address on your checks rather than your home address so thieves will not know where you live.   5.       Do not have your SSN or driver's license number printed on your checks.  Don't let merchants hand-write the SSN on your checks.   6.       When you pay bills, do not leave the envelopes containing your checks at your mailbox for the carrier to pick up, or in open boxes at the receptionist's desk at your workplace.  If stolen, your checks could be altered and then cashed by the imposter.  It is best to mail bills and other sensitive items at drop boxes inside the post office rather than neighborhood drop boxes.   7.       Keep a list or photocopy of all your credit cards, bank accounts, and investments -  the account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers of the customer service and fraud departments - in a secure place (not your wallet or purse) so you can quickly contact these companies in case your credit cards have been stolen or accounts are being used fraudulently.   8.       Never give our your SSN, credit card number, bank account number, or other personal information over the phone, by mail, or on the Internet unless you have initiated the call.   9.       Always take credit card receipts with you, never toss them in a public trash container.  When shopping, put receipts in your wallet or purse rather than in the shopping bag.   10.    Carefully review your credit card, bank and phone statements for unauthorized use.   11.    Never permit your credit card number to be written onto your checks.   12.    Watch the mail when you expect a new or reissued credit card to arrive.  Contact the issuer if the card does not arrive.   13.    Do not toss pre-approved credit offers in the trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them.   14.    Check your credit report.  Beginning in December 2004 on the West Coast, consumers get a free copy of their credit report annually.  To order your free report, go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.   15.    When creating PINs and passwords, do not use the last four digits of your Social Security number, mother's maiden name, birth date, middle name, pet's name, consecutive numbers or anything else that could easily be discovered by thieves.  It is best to create passwords that combine letters and numbers.   16.    Don't record passwords on anything in your purse or wallet - memorize them.   17.    Install a firewall on your home computer to prevent hackers from obtaining personal identifying and financial data from your hard drive.   18.    Install and update virus protection software to prevent a worm or virus from causing your computer to send out files or other stored data.   19.    When shopping on-line, do business with companies that provide transaction security protection and that have strong privacy and security policies.   20.    Store personal information securely in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or have service work done in your home     Return to home page.