Prime Targets for Identity Thieves
The first of almost 80 million baby boomers filed for Social Security benefits in October 2007. This individual may also have been one of the first baby boomers to fall prey to identity theft. More and more Boomers are being targeted by identity thieves because of their additional sources of income as well as their tendencies to avoid the internet, to rely on paper checks and paper mail, and to easily fall victim to pre-texting scams. Because of this, it is more important than ever for baby boomers, who are prime targets for identity thieves, to turn to identity theft services, such as LifeLock, to keep their identity and finances secure.
One of the first reason baby boomers should become members of LifeLock is because older boomers (ages 51-60) have not completely moved into the electronic age and, therefore, still use snail mail to pay bills and send correspondences. This leaves boomers, and their mailboxes, prime targets for identity theft as thieves can steal their credit card statements and retirement statements in order to change their address and take over their identity. LifeLock protects boomers from this form of identity theft by removing members’ names from pre-approved credit card mailing lists and junk mail lists.
Another way LifeLock protects boomers, who haven’t completely moved into the electronic age, is by pulling annual credit reports from all three credit bureaus and mailing them to their members. Because some boomers have never “surfed” the net, much less know that they can access their credit reports online; they do not keep a close watch on their credit activity. In addition to pulling credit reports, LifeLock places fraud alerts on member’s credit files so that lenders must call the member for approval prior to issuing credit or loans. These measures ensure that boomers’ credit remains safe and protected.
Another way LifeLock protects boomers from identity theft is through their eRecon and TrueAddress services. Through LifeLock’s eRecon service, criminal websites are monitored for the selling or trading of social security numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, etc. In addition to monitoring criminal websites, LifeLock’s TrueAddress service monitors national databases for changes to a members’ address and, if there is an address change, the member is notified of the change.
The next way LifeLock works to protect the identity of baby boomers is through their WalletLock service. Because boomers prefer to keep their personal documents close at hand, they are more likely to have multiple sources of personal identification in their wallet. This practice makes boomers prime targets for theft. If a boomer’s wallet is stolen, or lost, LifeLock’s WalletLock service assigns a WalletLock specialist to the members who will help in contacting each credit card company, banking institution, and any state and federal agencies who issue driver’s licenses, etc. to cancel the accounts and begin the process of reinstating missing documents.
Lastly, LifeLock safeguards boomers from spending excessive amounts of time and money if their identity is stolen through a $1,000,000 full service guarantee. Although most boomers are at the point where they are receiving additional income, their income is barely enough to cover their cost of living. Through LifeLock’s $1,000,000 guarantee, if a thief discovers a weakness in their system and uses it to steal your identity, LifeLock will secure attorneys, investigators, accountants, case managers, etc. to restore your good name and, if you lose money as a result of the theft, they will reimburse you the amount of money that was stolen.
With LifeLock’s Identity Theft Protection Services, boomers no longer need to worry about the security of their identity. In fact, the only security baby boomers may need to worry about is their Social Security benefits, which come from a system that is about to be tapped into by nearly 80 million baby boomers.