id theft / protection?

[queenlives]

folks,

wondering if anyone here is using www.lifelock.com or another commercially offered product as their means of id theft protection? comments / thoughts appreciated.

thx,
hal

 

[sahtt]

I'd be interested in knowing what services/products other people are using. I frequently check my credit but I know that's not enough.

A person 'broke into' the UT database and within a couple days several hundred students had mortgages out in their names.. pretty scary and there is no defense against completely avoiding that exact threat. UT recommends checking our credit as much as possible for the next several years because of it.

 

[terrypancake]

My wife and I are using Life Lock. I have spent many, many hour researching id theft protection and Life Lock seemed to be the smartest way to go. Most other 'protection' programs just 'help' you clean up the mess after someone takes you id. Life Lock, locks everything before it's stolen. I don't know if anybody has tried to steal our id or not. I like how the CEO of the company has his Social Security number posted on the web site. That says a lot to me. He must believe in his program.

 

[queenlives]

My wife and I are using Life Lock. I have spent many, many hour researching id theft protection and Life Lock seemed to be the smartest way to go. Most other 'protection' programs just 'help' you clean up the mess after someone takes you id. Life Lock, locks everything before it's stolen. I don't know if anybody has tried to steal our id or not. I like how the CEO of the company has his Social Security number posted on the web site. That says a lot to me. He must believe in his program.

thx terry - your thoughts wrt the display of his ssan are the same as mine.

hal

 

[steveny]

This looks pretty interesting. The problem I see is if the theif continues to apply for credit because of being denied the victims credit score would plumet.

 

[queenlives]

This looks pretty interesting. The problem I see is if the theif continues to apply for credit because of being denied the victims credit score would plumet.

good point - when i contact them today, i'll raise that question. my take is they'll have factored that in somehow, but we'll see what they say.

hal

 

[terrypancake]

The example you give Steve can't happen with Life Lock. The only way a credit inquiry can happen is if I allow the financial institution to inquire into my credit. When anyone tries to inquire into my credit I get a call from Life Lock and they ask if I want to allow the credit check to happen. So no inquiries can happen without my permission.

 

[queenlives]

The example you give Steve can't happen with Life Lock. The only way a credit inquiry can happen is if I allow the financial institution to inquire into my credit. When anyone tries to inquire into my credit I get a call from Life Lock and they ask if I want to allow the credit check to happen. So no inquiries can happen without my permission.

very cool, thx terry.
hal

 

[queenlives]

update: research completed, i found alifelock discount code online providing me with one free month + $20 off the annual price, bringing the total to $99 for 13 months coverage. (they don't offer multi-year discounts, though maybe that's not a bad thing given the focus / competitive pressure that may cause them to adjust their prices downward... we'll see.)

thx for the feedback, folks, much appreciated.

hal

 

[terrypancake]

That's cool Hal.. You did good.:biggrin:

 

[kkt]

Thanks Hal for bringing this service to my attention.

 

[queenlives]

terry, it worked out ok

kkt, my pleasure.

hal

 

[topman2005]

thanks for the information, i just signed up for the service. feel safe now :biggrin:

 

[NsXMas]

update: research completed, i found alifelock discount code online providing me with one free month + $20 off the annual price, bringing the total to $99 for 13 months coverage. (they don't offer multi-year discounts, though maybe that's not a bad thing given the focus / competitive pressure that may cause them to adjust their prices downward... we'll see.)

thx for the feedback, folks, much appreciated.

hal

Very cool Hal. Lots of times I forget to search for discount codes, thanks for mentioning it. It seems these guys promote their service on Craigslist a lot as that's where I found some of the discount codes, as well as http://www.idtheftquiz.org/

I have credit monitoring now but am considering this, although it does get expensive for an entire family...

FYI, here's a ID theft info page with a link to a free ID theft kit with very useful info.

 

[queenlives]

Very cool Hal. Lots of times I forget to search for discount codes, thanks for mentioning it. It seems these guys promote their service on Craigslist a lot as that's where I found some of the discount codes, as well as http://www.idtheftquiz.org/

I have credit monitoring now but am considering this, although it does get expensive for an entire family...

FYI, here's a ID theft info page with a link to a free ID theft kit with very useful info.

glad to help, and thanks for the links. i took the idtheftquiz and scored a 90. in truth, i'm not convinced lifelock will cover my backside in 100% of theft / usage attempts against me, but given the potential downside of doing nothing, the discounted cost makes it worth a try for a year.

being an old guy, i don't have quite the runway to re-earn my life savings over again

 

[Ponyboy]

Hal, how have you liked LifeLock so far?

I'm just short of punching the submit button for membership for my family and I.

 

[queenlives]

Hal, how have you liked LifeLock so far?

I'm just short of punching the submit button for membership for my family and I.

i've had no issues with them since signing on.

they've run credit reports on schedule and (afik), there have been no issues or personal exposure, direct mail has ceased to be (though i signed up for "remove me" lists) and we no longer receive tele-marketing calls @ the house. (iirc, lifelock filters some of that crap out... though i may be wrong.) i'm fairly paranoid about identity theft (i shred everything through a shredder i'm sure would shred my yukon.) and limit the amount of personal information i "leak" / expose to others.

for me, so far, so good....

 

[Vega$ NSX]

I use Lifelock. Part of what I liked about their website is their honesty. They come out and say it. What services they provide and what they do isn't magic and it isn't anything above and beyond what you can do for yourself, for FREE. All they claim to do is to keep track of it automatically for you. It's a service no different then it would be to pay someone to change your the oil in your car or clean your house.

However, take it for what it is worth. It's not a catch all safety net. It won't help you with stolen credit card numbers. It won't help you PREVENT ID theft, just detect it and clean up the mess faster. And as mentioned before it nothing you can't do yourself. All they really do is get your FREE annual credit report, but it is up to you to review it. They take you off of credit card mailing lists but as long as you have a secure mailbox and shred offers, it's the same thing. The one advantage I see is that IF your ID or wallet get's stolen, they do all the annoying leg work in filing cancellations and issuing new cards. They also help clear up problems and false charges.

 

[queenlives]

update worth noting:

http://www.ftc.gov/lifelock

 

[docjohn]

Well there you go Hal you may have just made 12 cents

 

[queenlives]

Well there you go Hal you may have just made 12 cents

perfect(!) - i'm buying doug lunch over the weekend

 

[Dtrigg]

perfect(!) - i'm buying doug lunch over the weekend

Sounds like I'll have coffee for lunch...

 

[swerve2007]

wasn't there some kind of investigation / lawsuit against 'life-lock' for false advertisment?

 

[NSXrunner]

Just my two cents here. Like was mentioned above, no such thing as a perfect solution. Take lifelock with a grain of salt. I can't find any articles but if I am not mistaken, the lifelock guy actually HAD his ID stolen a few years back. If thieves want it that bad, no protection in the world is going to help you.