LEARN HOW TO PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT

(Pikesville, MD) – While remembering victims of crime during National Crime Victims Rights Week, Maryland State Police are working to inform citizens about how they can keep from becoming victims by providing important prevention tips dealing with crimes that continue to be prevalent. The focus today is on identity theft.

Identity theft is a frustrating crime and its effects can haunt victims for years. Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personal identifying information, which can include a name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud, theft, or other crimes. According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 10 million Americans have their identities stolen every year.

In addition to monetary loss, victims of identity theft may be denied loans, housing, vehicles purchases, or may lose out on job opportunities because of negative information on their credit reports. They could even be arrested for crimes they did not commit because someone else is using their identity while committing crimes.

Identity thieves may steal your mail, wallet or purse, or even go through your trash. They might use email scams and pose as a legitimate company on-line while obtaining your personal information. They also call and try to get potential victims to provide personal information over the phone.

In Carroll County last year, State Police arrested two men who were breaking into cars parked in gym parking lots. People going to work out rarely took their wallets or purses with them and often left them in their cars in plain sight. The thieves were using a ‘slim jim’ to open even locked cars and then they would take a credit or check card from the victim’s wallet. If there were multiple cards, the thieves left some and often the victims did not realize a specific card was missing for several days.

By that time, the thieves had used the stolen credit cards to purchase power tools, electronics, or other items which they would sell on the street for quick cash. These two thieves were charged with 21 incidents in Carroll County and were also connected with thefts in several other counties.

If you think your credit card has been stolen, notify your bank or the issuing institution immediately. A stolen credit card remains usable until the holder notifies the bank the card is not in his or her possession any longer.

Once thieves have stolen your identity, their opportunities are endless. They often open new credit card accounts, never intending to pay the bills, which, of course, are charged to the identity theft victim. Thieves often open a wireless phone account, or get utility services like electricity, heating, or cable TV, all of which are charged to the victim’s name and account. They open bank accounts in the victim’s name and write bad checks, or drain the victim’s savings account through electronic transfers. Thieves obtain driver’s licenses or other documents using a victim’s name or Social Security number.

Citizens are right to be concerned about identity theft and they have a right to know how to protect themselves against this crime. There are many ways to reduce the chance of becoming an identity theft victim.

The Federal Trade Commission urges citizens to
1) deter theft by safeguarding your personal information;
2) detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements; and
3) defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.

The FTC also urges people to:
1) shred financial documents before discarding them;
2) protect your Social Security number (don’t carry it in your wallet and consider keeping it in a home safe);
3) provide no personal information unless you are certain of who you are dealing with;
4) don’t use obvious passwords; and
5) keep your personal information secure.

Identity thieves are using computers to commit many of their thefts. State Police
urge computer users to never reply to email or pop-up messages that ask for personal information and to not click on links in the message. Do not cut and paste a link from that message into your Web browser. The link will likely send you to a site different than the one indicated. People should also use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall, while making sure to keep all of them updated regularly.

Sometimes, victims receive an email asking them to call what appears to be a legitimate number in order to update personal account information or to supposedly access a refund. Thieves then use a device that may lead the person to believe they are calling a Maryland area code, but they are actually calling a scammer out of the state or even the country.

If you think you have been a victim of identity theft you should:
-file a police report;
-place a ‘fraud alert’ on your credit reports by contacting one of the three
nationwide consumer reporting companies:
Equifax – 1-800-525-6285
Experian – 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion – 1-800-680-7289;

-close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently; and
-report your theft to the Federal Trade Commission, either on-line at
www.ftc.gov/idtheft, by phone, or by mail.

When you file a police report for theft, fraud, or stolen identity, police will ask for certain specific information. It is a good idea to keep this information available if needed, but keep it in a locked home safe or other area inaccessible to others.

Investigating police officers will ask for your:
-date of birth;
-driver’s license number;
-Social Security number;
-telephone numbers at home, work, cellular;
-email addresses of every victim and every member of the household;
-name of bank or credit card company;
-account numbers involved in the theft and the names of the primary and secondary account holders (The credit card or bank card number must be provided by the victim and will not be provided to police by the bank absent a subpoena.).

Investigating police officers will also ask for:
-when and how the fraud or theft was discovered and how the victim became aware of it;
-last known user transaction date and location;
-bank or credit card company contact name and telephone number;
-a list of recent locations you parked, where you work and the last time you saw your card;
-a timeline of the theft and your actions since;
-photocopies of any letters, account statements and other related documents;
-possible locations of the theft and descriptions of persons around when the theft might have occurred.