Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite Mack Wolford believed faith compelled him to face the risk »

Surge in Medical Identity Theft Cripples Credit Ratings

Fraud spreading with use of electronic medical records

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 13, 2009 6:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – Watchdog groups warn that medical identity theft is on the rise with the growing use of electronic records that lack proper safeguards, the New York Times reports. Fraudsters use stolen insurance information or Social Security numbers to get free medical care and the victims are... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

2 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Miami Face-Eater Identified

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Tips on avoiding medical ID theft
New York Times

Money • Health

fraud • health insurance • identity theft • medical records

More Newser Stories

Identify Theft Cases Spike, but Hackers Aren't to Blame

Private data lying around in plain view on Internet

(NEWSER) - Last year the number of identity theft victims in the US jumped 12%, while the number of Internet-related fraud cases went up 23%. But the problem isn't just hackers, say experts: In many cases, we're exposing our private data to anyone and everyone who knows where to look. Atlanta officials recently found names, Social Security numbers, and home phone numbers of 1,000 of the city's firefighters online, for instance. More»

Feds Link 68 Fatal ODs to Kansas Clinic

Doc, nurse wife defrauded health plans with illegal prescriptions

(AP) - A new federal indictment implicates a Kansas doctor and his wife in nine additional patient deaths, bringing to 68 the number of fatal overdoses the government contends are linked to illegal prescription writing and a moneymaking conspiracy at their clinic. Dr. Stephen Schneider, his wife Linda, who is a nurse, and unnamed others are accused of scheming to illegally dispense prescription drugs and defraud health-insurance programs and patients through their Haysville clinic. They also are accused of money laundering. More»

Credit Card Processor Bares Massive Hacker Breach

Sophisticated hackers nab vast amounts credit card data

(NEWSER) - A credit card payment processor has disclosed a data breach that experts believe could be the biggest ever and may be putting millions of consumers at risk of ripoffs, the Washington Post reports. Heartland Payment Systems, which handles 100 million transactions from 250,000 businesses every month, believes malicious software allowed intruders to access customer information records for a period "longer than weeks" late last year. More»

Passport Frauds Used Identities of Deceased

Fake documents used by illegal immigrants, military deserters

(NEWSER) - More than 100 people stole the identities of dead people to cover up their immigration status, military desertion or drunken-driving convictions, federal authorities say after an investigation called “Operation Deathmatch.” Some of the accused even hid their true selves from spouses and children, and had been using the identities for decades, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. More»

Medicare Fudged Fraud Figures: Report

Claims to have cut bogus charges overstated

(NEWSER) - Medicare's boasts of having reduced fraud by billions are misleading, a draft report obtained by the New York Times finds. Auditors were told to ignore procedures that would have accurately measured fraudulent claims for medical equipment, the draft report says. Proper methods would have revealed an estimated $2.8 billion in fraud in 2006, instead of the $700 million reported to Congress. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Surge in Medical Identity Theft Cripples Credit Ratings

Fraud spreading with use of electronic medical records

fraud • health insurance • identity theft • medical records

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Identify Theft Cases Spike, but Hackers Aren't to Blame

Private data lying around in plain view on Internet

Feds Link 68 Fatal ODs to Kansas Clinic

Doc, nurse wife defrauded health plans with illegal prescriptions

Credit Card Processor Bares Massive Hacker Breach

Sophisticated hackers nab vast amounts credit card data

Passport Frauds Used Identities of Deceased

Fake documents used by illegal immigrants, military deserters

Medicare Fudged Fraud Figures: Report

Claims to have cut bogus charges overstated

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?