Social Security Number by Pritesh

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. The U.S. Secret Service has estimated that consumers nationwide lose $745 million to identity theft each year. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, the average victim spends 607 hours and averages $1,000 just to clear their credit records.

Identity thieves employ a variety of methods to gain access to your personal information. They may get information from businesses or other institutions by stealing it; by bribing an employee who has access to records; hacking into records; or conning information out of employees. Once identity thieves have your personal information, they may use it to commit a fraud or theft in your name.

How can you tell if you have become a victim of identity theft? Some signs include unexplained charges or withdrawals from your financial accounts; bills or other mail stop arriving (the thief may have submitted a change of address); a credit application is denied for no apparent reason, or debt collectors begin calling about merchandise or services you didn't buy.

Your computer can be a goldmine of personal information to an identity thief. To protect yourself and your computer against identity theft consider:

* Updating virus protection software frequently. Consider setting your virus protection software to update automatically. The Windows XP operating system also can be set to check for patches automatically and download them to your computer. * Not opening files sent to you by strangers, clicking on hyperlinks, or downloading programs from people or companies you don't know. * Using a firewall program, especially if you use a high speed Internet connection like cable or DSL that leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. * Providing your personal or financial information through an organization's secured website only. While not fool proof, a lock icon on the browser's status bar or a URL for a website that begins "https:" (the "s" stands for secure), may provide additional security. * Not storing your financial information on your laptop, unless absolutely necessary. * Deleting all the personal information stored on a computer before disposing of it. A wipe" utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive is recommended. * Checking with an anti-fraud education organization such as CardCops (www.cardcops.com). Card Cops runs a web site designed to help consumers determine whether their credit card numbers may have been stolen. They monitor Internet "chat rooms" where identity thieves illicitly trade and sell stolen credit card numbers. CardCops turns the information over to law enforcement authorities, but also allows consumers to access their database to see whether individual card numbers may have been stolen. In the first two months of operation, the site identified more than 100,000 stolen credit cards.

As with any crime, you can not completely control whether you will become a victim, but you can take steps to minimize your risk by remaining diligent and by minimizing outside access to your personal information.

About the Author

Pritesh Das is a Internet Marketer. Click here to learn more about the author

Notable Government Records In History

Government records are those documents that every citizen can obtain from the federal authorities. These can be used for various purposes, both for personal and business intentions. Throughout history, these records have served several important roles for each and every person in the country.

These records were previously unavailable to the general public; however, a legislation changed all that. Nowadays, people can now request certain government records on the right agency, and they can easily obtain and use them.

While there are ethical and legal restrictions on requesting government records, it is still fairly easy for one to get his or her hands on the data.

The availability of government records have done wonders to society. For once, people can now protect themselves by verifying and checking information on just about anyone they meet. For example, businesspersons are able to find out which of their applicants are considered "safe" for hiring, i. E., those who have no prior criminal records.

Important Government Records

There are many types of government records in existence. Each record serves a certain purpose. History has proven, however, that there are some of them whose importance are greater than the others. These records are the following:

Bankruptcy Records

When a person goes bankrupt, the first thing he or she is expected to do is to file for bankruptcy protection. This type of protection puts a stay on the ability of his or her debtors to collect any more of his or her debts under the premise that he or she is financially unable to pay them off.

A bankruptcy case then ensues, wherein the bankrupt person's assets are liquidated or his or her debts are restructured. All of these information are recorded in court dockets.

These records are particularly useful for those who are looking to enter into a business partnership. Some people may be uncomfortable or unsure about entering into a partnership if he or she is doubtful of the other party's ability to handle finances.

These bankruptcy records help to assuage or confirm these doubts for the person.

Criminal Records

Next to bankruptcy records, criminal records help someone look closer into the background of potential employees or even just other people, such as their neighbors and even new family members.

When a person commits an offense, the investigation bureau and the police force always keep a record of that person's crime. These offenses can be looked at and scrutinized by the public in order to protect themselves from dangerous persons in society.

Court Records

The courts maintain archives of their cases as well. While criminal offenses and cases can easily be examined using criminal records, civil offenses are another case.

For example, if you are looking into the background of a person applying for a loan, you can check court records to see if he or she has previous cases of fraud or money laundering. This will help you decide whether or not the person is at risk of going on default with his or her loan repayments.

Anyone can get his or her hands on these records. A request to the appropriate office or agency is all you need to accomplish. This is provided, however, that your intentions are legitimate: obtaining personal information for purposes of blackmail is considered invasion of privacy and is a ground for denial of your request.

Can Government Records Be Searched Online? The government always keeps tabs on its citizens. Whenever something happens, there is always a record t

The government always keeps tabs on its citizens. Whenever something happens, there is always a record that is sent to the government. For example, if a child is born, the hospital is required to maintain and submit a live birth record to the government, which is accessed as a birth certificate. These documents are collectively called government records, simply because it is the government that maintains an archive of these.

Due to their importance, government records were finally made public in the late 1960's through the federal Freedom of Information Act. Under the FIA, the government is now obligated to generate any record on any individual upon any person's request. In other words, all one needs to do is ask, and the government will give them the information that they require.

The Internet: A New Haven for Personal Records

Ever since its introduction to society exactly 10 years ago, the Internet has become the preferred mode of research for information by many people. There are many kinds of information that you can find online. For example, you can find all sorts of information about insurance services in the World Wide Web--from what insurance companies are operating to different types of policies offered.

Of course, government records are not an exception. Thanks to the Internet, people are now able to extract these documents without having to leave the comfort of their home.

Because of the demand for government records and the popularity of the Internet, many businesses have taken advantage of the fact by setting up record searching services. These services make it possible for people to easily and quickly find the record or information that they require. Moreover, these companies have found ways to link up to any government agency's database and conduct the searching on behalf of the user.

Most of the websites that offer these functionalities require a small fee for the service, while others are completely free. Whether you choose free or paid searching services, only one thing is for sure: using the Internet is cost effective and is very convenient.

Types of Government Records Available Online

Fortunately, there are a lot of government records that you can find online. The fear that you would have to go to a government agency's office because this type of record is not available online is non-existent. Everything you need can be easily found online, including these records.

Here are some of the records that you can obtain using the Internet:

Birth Certificates

Due to the necessity of securing birth certificates for employment and even for school, private businesses have secured ways for people to easily request these records online without having to personally approach authorities.

Lost-people Records

Do you want to know if there is actually a lost person that is residing in your neighborhood? You can use the Internet to browse through missing-person information and find out.

Criminal Records

It is a must for us to know who we are dealing with. Thus, if you consider a person to be shady, you can check online if he or she has any criminal record in the past.

Bankruptcy Records

Some businesses fail because of having a wrong partner. If you want to make sure that a potential partner knows how to handle money and business, you can use online services to see if he or she has filed for bankruptcy before.

criminal record lookup - How To Access Government Records Freely

Government records are useful to just about any person in the country. First, you can use them to extract information about yourself that could be required when you apply for a job like. These include your Social Security number or your birth certificate. They could also be useful to check up on another person's background through criminal record lookup, court dockets, bankruptcy records, and many others.

For this reason, government records are made freely available to any individual. All these people have to do is to file a request with the appropriate government agency in possession of the necessary data. Once the request has been approved, he or she will then receive the information that he or she has asked for.

How to Make Sure Your Request Is Not Denied

Even though these records are freely available, there are still some things to consider when you apply for release of these information. If you are asking for information about yourself and your family, then you will not expect to run into any possible problems with the federal or state government agency that holds the data.

However, if you are seeking information on someone outside your family, then you have to expect some barriers along the way.

First, when you are requesting for records pertaining to a certain individual, you must be able to prove in your request that you are not going to use the information for invading a person's privacy. You should be able to present a valid purpose together with your request for information.

Valid reasons would include the following:

* Background check prior to employment
* Confirmation of possible lost person contact
* Issues of security, like information on people of suspicious nature
* Bankruptcy records for a potential business partner

These are just some of the valid reasons for requesting government records on a person. The bottom line is to have a legal and ethical purpose for digging up a person's information.

Where to Find Government Records

One way to find government-held records is to approach the government agency directly. At most times, the information held by the agency can be obtained free of charge from you.

However, you may run through bureaucratic red tape along the way, which may delay you. This may prove to be difficult because some people who request for government information are businesspersons who are in urgent need of employees.

Another way to dig up government records on a certain individual is to use the Internet. The World Wide Web is home to hundreds of websites that offer their services of searching for government-held information on an individual's behalf. All you need to do to find these sites is to search for them using the search engines like Google, Yahoo, or MSN.

There are two types of Internet-based record searching. The most prevalent is the paid searching service. These are companies that have been able to establish systems of extracting government records, and they offer these services for a fee.

The second type is the free record search. It is the opposite of the paid services, because you don't have to pay a fee in order to use their services.

Criminal record lookup

One of the fastest and popular ways to conduct a government records search is to scout around and find a search website that is tapped into all of the databases. They help cut the time consuming methods down and help you get detailed and accurate information almost immediately. Depending on your need and how often you want to search would determine your pricing. Most of these website companies offering internet searches have attractive subscription rates that will allow you unlimited searches.

Some of the areas that people use for government records search are marriage licenses, birth certificates, deeds, and wills. Anything that is deemed as public information can be found in these search databases. If you are doing a little detective work, you can also get information on court records, criminal backgrounds, and even motor vehicle records.

Criminal background checks for prison records and sex offenders are often used by schools and even neighborhood associations. Employers also use this method of search for pre-employment background checks. Some of the databases will also allow you to obtain telephone and cell phone records.

A government records search can be done by city, county, state and even can be used for federal government searches. If you are looking for any type of public information on an individual, chances are this is the best way to find it. Another benefit is your search is completely confidential. No one will ever know your identity and what you are searching for giving you assurance your actions won't be discovered.

Criminal record lookup - employee checks

Background checks on existing and potential employees should be seen as a must by all employers large or small. A simple online background check could avoid an unwanted situation in the future.

Employers can be held responsible for employees actions therefore they should take all measures in making the right hiring decisions. In regards to criminal records the employer needs to determine the relevance and frequency of the crime and the probability of re-offending.

A background check on a potential employee can be approached in several ways. The employer has to be careful in their approach to ensure they are not violating any laws and not leaving themselves open to legal action.

One approach would be to simply ask the question at the interview. This sounds simple enough but is it really? The employer for example should not be asking whether the person has ever been in trouble or arrested by the police, they should only be asking if the person has been charged and convicted of a crime.

To some people it would appear that there is no difference between the two questions. They are wrong. If an employer asks a potential employee about their arrest record and makes their decision based on that, they open themselves up to violating that persons rights and legal action taken against them.

In some forms of employment it is a legal requirement for employers to perform background checks such as criminal records, sex offenders or driving records. Some examples could be jobs that require clean drivers records or situations where people will be in close contact with minors, and so on.

On the other hand, some states have different laws on how much probing employers can do when performing background checks on people. It is up to the employer to familiarize themselves with the laws in their state to avoid repercussions.

lets say that a background check has been performed on a potential employee meeting all state laws and not violating that persons rights. If that person turns out to have a criminal record most people would assume that would be enough reason to move on to the next applicant. They are wrong.

The employer would need to demonstrate that this persons criminal record will affect the business. The employer is expected to consider the following,

* How relevant is the conviction to the job
* The applicants rehabilitation efforts
* Previous employment history before and after the conviction
* How many convictions the person has
* The facts surrounding the conviction
* The nature of the offense.

In many cases employers have become to scared to ask the question in fear that it might backfire on them. Some simply don't ask, others rely on their own judgment of character or reference material and some use online software to perform their own background checks.

Criminal record lookup - nanny checks

How do you know if your nanny is the best person to be looking after your children? There are signs to look out for and there are also measures that need to be taken.

There are many horror stories out there of nanny gone bad. There are instances of theft, child neglect and more seriously child abuse. It is the parents responsibility to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of their children when in a nanny's care.

There are several ways that parents can approach this situation. For some parents a nanny cam is the answer, for others a background check and some rely on their judgment of character.There are pros and cons with each one of these methods.

lets look at the nanny cam. This is becoming more and more popular with parents.There is a large variety of cameras and most are wireless and easy to hide, but is it a good idea or is it invasion of privacy and how does the law view this.

In general surveillance cameras are legal, however there are some variations from state to state and you should look into them before taking this course of action.

Cameras are very effective and should be used for prevention not for gathering evidence. By this I mean that if you suspect a nanny of wrongdoing, deal with it immediately. Don't allow them in your house or near your child for the sake of gathering evidence.

Use the camera as prevention by being up front with the nanny. Tell them the house is under surveillance, just don't tell them where the cameras are. The downside is that even a good nanny might see this as invasion of privacy or simply feel uncomfortable in that environment which means you might lose out on a great nanny.

On the other hand most reputable nanny's should not have a problem with this and might even feel more at ease knowing that they have nothing to hide and that no situations of suspicion will arise.

For some parents, hidden cameras is not a desirable option and they prefer to use their own judgment of character. With a new nanny this can be vey difficult and risky. With an ongoing nanny there are signs that parents should be looking for.

Probably the most obvious sign is your child's response to the nanny. Are they nervous or anxious around the nanny or are the content in the nanny's presence. If your child is never happy to see the nanny then maybe its time t investigate.

Is your child kept well and clean, is the nanny happy to tell you about her day with your child, is your child having too many avoidable accidents, do you catch the nanny out lying often, does the nanny follow your requests, these are all important questions you should be asking.

Having good referrals is a plus but can't be solely relied upon. Parents are using the internet as a tool to perform their own background checks on their nanny. Its not just about criminal records and sex offenders, but even driving records for example are important when this person is spending time with your child.

There is a wealth of information available on the internet these days, parents are crazy if they're not taking advantage of it.

Not one of these measures is full proof, but maybe a combination of these measures might be the way to go.

Criminal Record Lookup

Criminal Record Lookup is a people finder Resource. Whether its finding people, find address, reverse phone, criminal records, sex offenders or almost any Public record, Criminal Record Lookup is where you need to be looking.

If its a background check on a future employee, looking for a lost friend or loved one, or you suspect someone of being a sex offender or having a criminal record then Criminal Record Lookup is the only place I would be looking. Criminal Record Lookup is the most complete people finder on the market.

With recent people search technology, you have been able to look someone up if you have a good deal of information about them. Frustratingly, without having an address, Social Security number, or some other personal means of identifying someone, you were pretty much left empty-handed.

Today however new sites that are specifically designed to find people like Criminal Record Lookup will prove to be a valuable resource to you. All you have to do is log into the system, place in whatever information you have, and wait for the computer to access the files for you. Then, you can simply browse through the relevant search information to find out whatever you need.