Identity Theft and Terrorism
One of the single best arguments for protecting your identity I have read recently just occurred tonight. You can read it here. http://www.shift4.com/pdf/s4-wp0806_terrorism-and-credit-card-information-theft.pdf
Dennis Lormel retired from the FBI after 28 years fighting in The Terrorist Financing Operations Section. Here they investigate financial links to terror organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
One of the things Mr. Lormel says in the white paper sent a chill up my spine. (And I suggest very emphatically you read the entire document yourself)
It was that Identity Theft is on the rise within terrorist organizations as a means to fund operations. That is to say these terror groups are funding their objectives using funds they collect by STEALING the identity of the Americans they are attacking.
Major funding of September 11th 2001 was still the sponsor level financing, however since that time these groups have had to rely more heavily on criminal enterprises for funding. Credit Card theft fits perfectly into those revised strategies. By using the stolen identity of it's victim, the organization can raise incredible amounts of money in a relatively short amount of time.
In the past five years we have seen a massive shift in Identity Theft for these purposes. Future activities will most certainly be connected to this type of funding. The best safeguard against this really has nothing to do with the government in my opinion. We all are responsible for our own credit profile, and who has access to it. With very few exceptions access to your credit report, and accounts can be secured almost entirely by placing a Security Alert or PIN number on your credit at the bureau level. Learn how to do that here. No excuse really it is 100% FREE
Companies like LifeLock, and other Identity Theft protection companies can assist you in locking down the access these groups need to fund these activities. By blocking access, you not only protect your good name, and your family, but you are also protecting everyone else in the U.S. Terrorists will have to find a different source for the money they use to attack our country, and its citizens.
I speak often about the benefits of protecting your identity and the identities of your family. It is simple and easy to do, and is totally free. Add this to the number of times I have implored you to take action, and use this moment to lock down your personal information.
The only thing worse than a repeat of 9/11? Finding out YOU were responsible for paying for it.
God Bless,
Wayne Altman
www.givemegreatcredit.com
Huge thanks to Ilan Weinglass @ The Terror Finance Blog www.terrorfinance.org for the incredible heads up.
Dennis Lormel retired from the FBI after 28 years fighting in The Terrorist Financing Operations Section. Here they investigate financial links to terror organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
One of the things Mr. Lormel says in the white paper sent a chill up my spine. (And I suggest very emphatically you read the entire document yourself)
It was that Identity Theft is on the rise within terrorist organizations as a means to fund operations. That is to say these terror groups are funding their objectives using funds they collect by STEALING the identity of the Americans they are attacking.
Major funding of September 11th 2001 was still the sponsor level financing, however since that time these groups have had to rely more heavily on criminal enterprises for funding. Credit Card theft fits perfectly into those revised strategies. By using the stolen identity of it's victim, the organization can raise incredible amounts of money in a relatively short amount of time.
In the past five years we have seen a massive shift in Identity Theft for these purposes. Future activities will most certainly be connected to this type of funding. The best safeguard against this really has nothing to do with the government in my opinion. We all are responsible for our own credit profile, and who has access to it. With very few exceptions access to your credit report, and accounts can be secured almost entirely by placing a Security Alert or PIN number on your credit at the bureau level. Learn how to do that here. No excuse really it is 100% FREE
Companies like LifeLock, and other Identity Theft protection companies can assist you in locking down the access these groups need to fund these activities. By blocking access, you not only protect your good name, and your family, but you are also protecting everyone else in the U.S. Terrorists will have to find a different source for the money they use to attack our country, and its citizens.
I speak often about the benefits of protecting your identity and the identities of your family. It is simple and easy to do, and is totally free. Add this to the number of times I have implored you to take action, and use this moment to lock down your personal information.
The only thing worse than a repeat of 9/11? Finding out YOU were responsible for paying for it.
God Bless,
Wayne Altman
www.givemegreatcredit.com
Huge thanks to Ilan Weinglass @ The Terror Finance Blog www.terrorfinance.org for the incredible heads up.
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