Subject: A New Online Scam & Giving to Charity
From: "Bo Holland, CEO of Debix Identity Protection" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:14:52 +0000

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Debix Identity Protection Network Newsletter
December 2011
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Products  -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/cecf70d868  
Contact  -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/fa1941c290   
Login  -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/2c0b175423

IN THIS ISSUE:
>>>Watch Out for Typosquatting: The Latest Online Scam
>>>Customer Story: Debix Alert Detects Theft "In the Nick of Time"   
>>>End of the Year Donation Planning

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Robert,

The entire Debix identity protection team wishes you a happy holiday
season and a safe 2012!

Bo Holland, Founder & CEO of Debix
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Watch Out for Typosquatting: Scammers Exploit Typos to Phish for
Information
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If you shop online, one slip of the finger could lead to a mountain
of identity theft problems. Typosquatting, a scam in which domains
are similar to popular retailers are bought, is on the rise. Websense
reports that such domains now number in the thousands, with examples
including "bestbuyh.com", "appple.com", and "wallmatt.com". While you
may think that these fake sites would be easy to spot, they are often
well designed and appear similar enough to the real retailers to
trick consumers.

Although these shoppers think they're making a purchase from a
reputable vendor, they're actually supplying their information to
identity thieves. But even if you don't make a purchase, be careful;
clicking links on these unsecure websites can result in malware or
spyware being installed on your computer. Other fake websites use the
correct spelling of a well known company, but with a ".org" or ".net"
domain. These will often be embedded in emails offering great deals.

To avoid becoming a victim of a typosquatting scam, take a few extra
precautions when shopping online:

>>Double-check. When you visit a website, always look at the address
bar to make sure you typed in the correct address.  

>>Use Google. Try searching for the website instead of visiting it
directly.  In addition to ensuring that you so not make any typos,
doing this will also ensure that you are on the correct top-level
domain.  

>>Trust your instincts. If a website looks or feels fishy, don't make
a purchase! No matter how great a deal is, it's not worth
compromising your identity.  

>>Be secure. When you enter all of your personal information during a
transaction, look up on the address bar and make sure that you are on
a secure
(http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/0f9d4a2377 connection.  

>>Have protection. To avoid being harmed by clicking on dangerous
links, make sure that your anti-malware and anti-spyware protection
is up to date. Cnet has a great security center which provides links
to download all sorts of antispyware and security programs.

===========================================================================
Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/5e137ccf62 
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.
===========================================================================

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Customer Story: Debix Alert Detects Theft "In the Nick of Time"
Investigator Tamara Assists Judith With Identity Theft Aftermath   
===========================================================================

It was a tough year for Debix customer Judith.  After the unexpected
death of her husband, an uncooperative mortgage company seriously
damaged a lifetime of superb credit.  Then, she learned from her bank
that someone else was making purchases using her debit card, which
was likely stolen by a thief using a skimming device.  The bank
returned her money and issued a new card but all this was a reminder
that her financial future could be at risk.

In response, Judith began to rebuild her credit and started cutting
back on expenses.   Her plan included finding more affordable
healthcare. Unfortunately that meant sharing her personal information
with multiple healthcare companies.  One of the companies she was
working with notified her several months later that her personal data
had been breached.  "They offered two years of protection through
Debix, so I signed up."  Judith says it strange to think so, but 
"now I realize it was a blessing."

"After signing up, I didn't pay any attention until I got an alert
call from Debix. I was connected to Taylor who asked if I was trying
to open accounts at Capital One, T Mobile, Dillard's and Wal-Mart.  I
was not." The data breach that affected Judith showed no signs of
causing the harm (Debix has technology to track whether the data is
being used as a result of the breach or a random act) and it became
clear the thief stole her personal information somewhere else.

"I felt like I had been through so much and was really getting
depressed - this was one more thing."  Judith felt immediate relief
when Debix OnCall Investigator, Tamara Teigen, assured her that they
would work together to stop any further damage.  "I was
extraordinarily upset and very appreciative that Tamara was on the
phone with me to explain the situation to the creditors."  Judith
says that she wouldn't have known someone was trying to use her
identity if it weren't for Debix's alert system - "it was caught in
the nick of time before any damage was done."  Debix also gave her
advise on steps to take to protect all her accounts from future
attacks.

"It's not always enough to be vigilant," acknowledges Judith, "so
much of our personal data is out there and it can be stolen and used.
 I am glad I have Debix to let me know if something going on."  She
adds, "Sometimes you feel like people don't care but Debix went the
extra mile and when you're in this situation and going through the
trauma, it means a lot."

===========================================================================
Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/9cd82ce736 
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.
===========================================================================

===========================================================================
End of the Year Donation Planning: Don't Fall Victim to These Charity
Scams  
===========================================================================        
As the year comes to a close, you may be considering making a
donation to a deserving charity. Unfortunately, the landscape of
charitable organizations is littered with fake charities and scams.
So when you give, make sure to do a little research beforehand. The
FTC has a microsite
(http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/5bd7268ff6 dedicated to helping people avoid giving to fraudulent organizations.
Here are some warning signs they give to indicate a scam:   High
pressure pitches  A thank you for a pledge you don't remember making 
Requests for cash  Charities that offer to send a courier or
overnight delivery service to collect your money  Charities that
guarantee sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution 
Charities that spring up overnight, especially those that involve
current events like natural disasters, or those that claim to be for
police officers, veterans, or firefighters

If you spot any of these signs, don't be afraid to reject the
request. Refusing to give money to help cure cancer can make you feel
like a horrible person, but you want to make sure your money is being
well spent!

If the request doesn't seem fishy, ask the solicitor for some
important information to make sure the charity is the real deal:

Ask questions. If you receive a call, letter, email, or in person
request for a donation, be sure to ask for the charity's name,
address, and phone number, written information about its programs,
and how much of your contribution will go to fundraising costs. 
Follow up on the information. Do a quick search on the internet to
validate the information given to you by the solicitor  Validate the
information. Check the history of the charity with organizations who
compile lists of valid charities. Some great resources include:   

IRS -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/916353784e    
BBB Wise Giving Alliance -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/9f94a62adf    
Charity Navigator -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/5b9b067152    
GuideStar -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/a7a754bcb1      

Give to the correct address. If you decide to give, make sure you
direct your donation to the address listed on one of the above
websites or the charity's official website.

===========================================================================
Protect Your Family with Debix! -
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?DebixIdentityProtect/93c708f878/a0eb88ddc9/531b30b4e2 
Or Call 866-747-5214 between 9am-5pm Central.
===========================================================================

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This message was sent by Bo Holland, CEO of Debix Identity Protection

Debix Identity Protection
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Austin, Texas 78701
US