Subject: Derrick's Story: Complicated Case of Criminal ID Theft
From: "Debix Identity Protection Newsletter" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:33:10 +0000

Debix Newsletter
www.Debix.com

In This Issue:
* Debix Helps Customer Arrested Twice for Crimes Committed by an ID
Thief!
* Two Phone Scams to Watch for: SMiShing and Vishing Fireproof Safes
* Protect Your Identity Information from Fires and More

Derrick's Story: Debix Helps Customer Arrested Twice for Crimes
Committed by an ID Thief!
Debix Investigator Resolves this Complicated ID Theft Case

Derrick, a nursing student and Iraq veteran says his experience in
the military made him passionate in his quest to help others.  "I was
an EMT in the military and then a paramedic afterwards.  It can be
distressing but I enjoy working with people and being able to assist
them in their time of need."  Unfortunately, a criminal using
Derrick's identity, threatened to undermine all he was doing and the
solid reputation he had built.

It began on a drive to class when he was pulled over for a broken
turn signal.  After running a check on his driver's license, the
officer told him his license was suspended and he was going to jail. 
Derrick was baffled, "I had no idea the nature of the charge or why I
was being arrested.  I told the officer he must be mistaken."  His
car was towed and he was taken to jail where he learned there was an
outstanding speeding ticket in Mississippi under his name and
driver's license number.  He paid the ticket in order to be released
and placed a call to Debix.

Derrick had previously been a victim of identity theft while serving
in the military.  Because of that experience, he became an Debix 
customer but even so says, "I never dreamed that someone could get my
information and use it in this way."  OnCall Investigator Christy was
assigned to Derrick's case and immediately went to work to clear his
record.  She filed a police report and although it was a confirmed
case of identity theft, Derrick still was required to appear in a
Mississippi court and later deal with the charge of driving with a
suspended license in Georgia.  An attorney was hired at the expense
of Debix to navigate through the court process.

At this point Christy canvassed all counties and states to see if
there were any other issues outstanding and she learned there was
also a warrant for check fraud, a felony offense.  Someone had used
his identity once again to write hot checks.  She worked with law
enforcement, the District Attorney's office and Department of Motor
Vehicles to promptly clear Derrick's record.

Though all charges were dismissed, he was still responsible for the
court fees, fines, tow fees, bond and the cost to have a new license
issued.  Derrick says, "The State of Georgia did not offer any of the
money back.  They said I would have to go after the person who
committed the crime."  Fortunately, he says Debix and the $1M
insurance policy helped cover "expenses including attorney's fees,
travel expenses and other out of pocket expenses - even food."  He
says he would not have known what to do without the support of OnCall
Investigator, Christy. "It was great for someone to assist me in my
time of need when I felt down. It is a nightmare to be a victim of
fraud and be sitting there in jail knowing I didn't do anything.  I
wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

Derrick is trying to put the whole thing behind him and complete his
education but says he'll always be on the lookout for new activity
and is glad Debix is there to help. "Debix is great at letting me
know if there is anything going on with my accounts whether it's
changes to an account, or someone trying to open a new account and I
like the system because I know it's safe. I hear my voice and the
phrase I recorded."

For Derrick it's not only the safety but Christy's commitment to the
case, "Christy called to check on me frequently to see if things were
going okay.  She made me feel good about getting my identity back and
went above and beyond.  Even after it was resolved she still wanted
to know if there was anything else she could do to help.  I have told
her thank you a thousand times but I cannot say it enough."

Protect Your Family with Debix! www.debix.com/choose_plan.php
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.

Two Phone Scams to Watch for: SMiShing and Vishing
Attempted Scams on Your Mobile or Home Phone

You've probably heard of phishing, a scam in which fraudsters send
mass emails posing as major institutions requesting personal
information. However, you may not be aware of two similar, but less
talked about scams in which victims are attacked through the phone.

SMiShing, a hybrid of the word "phishing" and "SMS", is a scam in
which fraudsters 'fish' for personal information through SMS text
messages. The text message typically claims to be from a bank or
financial service and requests an immediate response via phone or the
internet.  With many consumers receiving real alerts from their banks
and credit card companies via text message, this new fraud poses a
real threat. To avoid becoming a victim:

Save the number your bank uses to send alerts into your phone. If you
receive an alert requesting action that is not from this number,
proceed with caution If you respond to text message alerts, call the
number listed on the institution's website Don't visit websites sent
via text message   Vishing a hybrid of voice and phishing, utilizes
caller ID spoofing to trick consumers into divulging personal
information via telephone. Vishing scams usually call consumers with
automated recording telling them that their credit cards have been
flagged for fraudulent activity. The recording then requests that the
victim calls a separate number or enters their credit card numbers,
PINs, or SSNs on the keypad.

Because people tend to trust caller ID much more so than emails,
Vishing can be especially dangerous. Here's how to avoid becoming a
victim:

Do not give information on an incoming phone call: Always call the
telephone number listed on your bills or your financial institution's
webpage to provide personal information Report incidents: Report
vishing calls to the FTC - www.ftc.gov  or call (888) 382-1222. If
you think you've been a victim of a vishing attack you can also
contact, the Internet Crime Complaint Center -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/3e90f896e5/a0eb88ddc9/f17d5d114e

Protect Your Family with Debix! www.debix.com/choose_plan.php
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.

Fireproof Safes Protect Your Information from Fires and More
An Identity Risk You May Not Have Considered: Fire

As an Austin based company, Debix has recently witnessed the
devastation wrought by fires firsthand. With the fires clearing up,
hundreds of victims are returning to their property, only to find
their homes completely destroyed. While personal belongings can
eventually be replaced, it can be difficult or even impossible to
have your records recreated. This is why we strongly recommend that
everyone purchase a fireproof safe to protect their personal
information.  Here are a few important factors to consider when
shopping for a fireproof safe:

* With more and more files being stored digitally, it's important to
look for a safe that can protect computer equipment, such as a hard
drive with a back up of your family pictures.  Look for a safe with a
rating of 125, which means that the inside temperature will never get
hotter than 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

* Ensure that the size of your safe makes it difficult to steal
Consider a safe that is also flood proof. Often, where there is fire,
water will soon come.

If you need some guidance in selecting a safe, Sentry Safe provides a
great tool -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/3e90f896e5/a0eb88ddc9/078462f26c  to help you find the perfect safe for your needs.  While some of the
offerings may seem costly, it's important to remember the importance
of the information inside. Your identity is worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars, so spending a fraction of that on a fireproof
safe is a small price to pay for its security.

Protect Your Family with Debix! www.debix.com/choose_plan.php
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central. 

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Debix Identity Protection
823 Congress Avenue, Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78701
US