How do hackers grab your personal data out of thin air? Agent Peterson said one of the most common types of attack is this: a bogus but legitimate-looking Wi-Fi network with a strong signal is strategically set up in a known hot spot…and the hacker waits for nearby laptops to connect to it. At that point, your computer—and all your sensitive information, including user ID, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.—basically belongs to the hacker. The intruder can mine your computer for valuable data, direct you to phony webpages that look like ones you frequent, and record your every keystroke.

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It seems everybody lately has had some type of credit problem. Whether it is because of a predatory lender, a law suit or you have just been unable to pay your bills you may find yourself subject to judgment by a future employer.

Credit reports have long been a part of background checks, especially when a potential employee may be handling money. So, what do employers look for on your credit report? You may have seen the commercials on TV with the goofy kid singing about his terrible credit report, well it isn’t quite that simple. Read more…

What happens when you combine identity theft and mortgage fraud? You get a brand new type of crime most people have never even heard of: house stealing.

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Internet auction fraud is a growing epidemic worldwide, as online shopping has grown significantly every year that online shopping has been available. 51,000 cases of internet fraud cases were reported in 2002. In 2006, that number ballooned to 97,000. The numbers are staggering, but everyone can lower their risk by knowing what auction fraud is, how to detect it, and how to prevent falling for it. Read more…

57% of hiring managers say they have caught a lie on a candidate’s application, according to an online survey.
What is the top lie when prospective employees are applying for a job? <!–more–>

It is usually stretching dates of employment to cover up employment gaps! One in five hiring managers have discovered this problem in the past. Some of the other areas that candidates have lied about include, Past employers (18 percent), Academic degrees and institutions (16 percent), Technical skills and certifications (15 percent), Accomplishments (8 percent).

Of the managers that were asked 93% of them stated that they did not hire the applicant once they found out they had lied!

Prompted by an article written by “The Lisa” over at Bruce Clay’s blog entitled “Your Boss Is Not Your Friend”. I wanted to address the issue of conducting social media background checks. In my opinion they do not comply with the FCRA, the governing document of employment screening within the United States. So what do we do if we happen to come across some potentially damaging information about a potential employee, ignore it? What if you were to find out that your employee was secretly planting false information about you, your company or its executives online? If that employee is already working for you then I think you may have grounds for dismissal, but if you are thinking of hiring them can you use this information per the FCRA in a hiring decision? More and more companies are doing so. People have to realize that everything you publish to the interent is being crawled by search engine spiders. That information is in the public domain and usually rather easily accesible. Posting your political views, rants about your job or pictures of you cutting loose on the weekend may not be using your best judgement.

Using a license verification system to verify the professional licensing of an individual is an essential step in fighting fraud. Business to business fraud can occur when an individual or party involved in either a business transaction or in applying for a job is dishonest about the status of their professional license. Many professions require an individual to be properly licensed. For example, attorneys, doctors, accountants, and financial advisors all require a professional license. Without the proper licensing, an individual is not qualified to participate in a business transaction or to be hired for the job. If one enters into a business transaction with an unqualified individual, they may become victims of fraud. Further more, if a business hires an individual who is not properly licensed, they may become liable for fraud or other damages resulting from the negligent hiring. Thus, before entering into a business relationship with any other individual, it is essential to protect yourself by conducting a thorough professional license verification of all involved parties.A professional license verification typically involves surveying data found in numerous state, federal and private databases. For example, if one is going to perform a license verification of a person applying to be an attorney, the license verification check would search the databases of a particular’s state’s attorney registration roster. To do this, a license verification will effectively check for a proper professional license of the applicant or other third party by verifying such information as the individual’s name, address, license number and license expiration date in comparison to the same information stored within the various databases. A license verification system can also check for any limitations, restrictions or disciplinary rulings that may affect an individual’s professional license status.

Utilizing a license verification database is the most convenient, efficient and effective method to obtain a professional license verification on a third-party business partner or potential hire. When one uses an automated license verification system, the license verification process automatically surveys numerous databases, providing the user with a thorough license verification on the individual in question. Many license verification programs use an online database search engine in order to perform a license verification check. An online license verification program has the advantage of allowing one to check a professional license either individually or in a batch by searching either one or numerous license verification sources with just one click.

Since the status of one’s professional license can change rapidly, it is important to conduct regular license verification checks. Making license verification a regular part of one’s business and hiring processes will allow one to better protect themselves from the risk of being a victim of fraud. Continuously taking the necessary steps to conduct a professional license verification will help reduce the risk of fraud and assist with letting one run a more effective and profitable business. Instead of discovering that an employee or business partner lacks the proper qualifications after the fact, a license verification will allow you to take preventative steps to ensure you hire the right individual from the start.

There is a great thread over on BackGroundChatter.com about screening your romantic interests. It has become a big topic of debate amongst those of you that choose to go the route of Internet dating. I would like to know some of your opinions on the matter. Below is an article I have written that deals with some of the pitfalls of online dating.

Online dating services can be tricky. Many people get lulled into a false sense of security when they meet someone “online”. Don’t fall into that trap. Make sure you check out whatever dating service you are going to use. This can be just as important as checking out the person you are going to be dating. Look for services that offer personality profiles as well as background checks on it’s members.

When you find someone make sure that you do not reveal too much about yourself initially. Keep it on a first name or “nickname” basis only until your are satisfied that the person you are conversing with is safe. Don’t tell them what town or what street you live on. Many people provide clues as to where they live without even realizing it. Do not just meet the person on a whim. Make sure you speak to them via the phone first. Also make sure that you have their correct information.

Even if the dating service provides a background check you may want to conduct your own independently. At the very least you want to make sure they have no criminal record. You may also want to conduct a background check of their “online identity”. This consists of going to search engines and typing in their name and nickname they may use online. Many private investigators provide this service and can dig up information where the general consumer can not. It may be worth it just to know for sure. Most importantly, when your are finally going to meet your dream date. Pick a public area that is well lit and where you feel safe. You may want to bring a friend in case things don’t go as planned.

So now you have finally met Mr. or Ms. Perfect and things seem to be going great! I know I may sound like a overprotective mother here but you must remember you really still do not know this person. Initially be wary. The first few dates keep your guard up. Keep an eye on your personal belongings. Many a person has been taken in by Internet con-men to have their identity stolen or worse. If you pay for dinner with a credit card keep an eye on it and the receipts. This goes for your ID, SS Card, as well.

Ok so things aren’t going so well. What happens if for some reason the relationship goes south. Hopefully this will not happen to you but it has been known to occur. If after just a short time you find that you are not compatible with the person let them know right away. Again, this may be a good time for a public area and a friend in tow. Hopefully that will be the end of it, but if things heat up and the person will not leave you alone there are some things you can do. Currently there are laws on the books that protect you from stalking. There is a federal law along with many state and local laws. See the bottom of this article for additional anti-stalking resources. And please this is not meant to scare you off from on-line fun, but please be careful out there.

Additional Resources:
TechTV.Com
iVillage.Com

Stalking:
To obtain a guide for stalking victims, write or call the National Center for Victims of Crime2111 Wilson Blvd.Ste. 300, Arlington, VA 22201Phone: (800) FYI-CALL or (703) 276-2880Web: http://www.ncvc.org/

Websites:
Stalking Behavior, by D. T. Coon http://www.stalkingbehavior.com/
Los Angeles Co. District Attorney http://www.lovemenot.org/
AXIS Intervention & Training Institute http://www.stalkingrescue.org/
Stalking Victims’ Sanctuary, by Linden Gross http://www.stalkingvictims.com/
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse http://www.privacyrights.org/
Anti Stalking website, by Doreen Orion, MD http://www.antistalking.com/
Gavin de Becker, Inc. threat assessment & protection services http://www.gdbinc.com/
“Stalking through the Courts,” by Janet Normalvanbreucher www.gate.net/~liz/liz/FRtactic.html
The Stalking Assistance Site, Kim Kelly & Joann Ugolini http://www.stalkingassistance.com/
Working to Halt Online Abuse http://www.haltabuse.org/
Safety Ed International http://www.safetyed.org/

So ya wanna be a net detective/netsleuth/cybercop, etc? First of all the claims these types of software packages make are false! Out and out lies. I had written an article about background checks several years ago and included some of the flaws with their advertising. I will go over some of the bigger lies here. Read more…