| When a criminal wrongfully obtains and uses | | | | school, doctor's or dentist's office or any |
| another individual's personal data in a | | | | location where there may be copies of credit |
| manner that involves fraud the act is | | | | card receipts and other documentation |
| referred to as identity theft.Unfortunately, | | | | containing personal information.- Mail theft. |
| just about everyone knows someone who has | | | | Pre approved credit card offers and other |
| been a victim. A good friend of mine recently | | | | mail material containing personal information |
| became a victim. His case, (and 16 years of | | | | are too often easily obtainable by identity |
| law enforcement experience), prompted me to | | | | thieves.- The theft of proprietary data |
| write this article.*(If you have senior | | | | containing employee information from a |
| citizens in your life, PLEASE have them read | | | | company's human resource department or even a |
| this and make sure that they understand. | | | | briefcase. If employee spreadsheets contain |
| Seniors are targeted more than anyone).The | | | | no date of birth or social security |
| following are actual incidents involving | | | | information, the names and telephone numbers |
| identity theft:The victim - A medical doctor | | | | are sold to telemarketing or other similar |
| practicing at his successful twenty-year-old | | | | organizations for a profit.- "Shoulder |
| office in central GeorgiaThe victim realized | | | | surfing." Identity thieves will even resort |
| that several important pieces of mail that he | | | | to sitting in their automobile in a parking |
| had been expecting at his residence hadn't | | | | lot and will utilize binoculars to read a |
| arrived yet. He had expected two of the items | | | | victim's PIN number at an ATM machine, or |
| to arrive more than two weeks earlier. While | | | | credit and/or calling card number at a |
| attempting to telephone one of the companies | | | | payphone.The following proactive steps will |
| whose package had not arrived, the victim | | | | aid in the prevention of identity theft and |
| received a telephone call from the sales | | | | fraud:- Insure that new orders of personal |
| manager at an automobile dealership located | | | | checks are delivered to your bank, not your |
| in central Alabama. The manager stated that | | | | residence.- Mail payments containing personal |
| he was calling to insure that all was well | | | | checks or money orders from a secure public |
| with the new automobile that the doctor had | | | | mailbox or the post office, not your |
| purchased several days earlier. The manager | | | | residential mailbox.- When ordering a new or |
| also stated that he would have contacted the | | | | replacement credit card by mail, write down |
| doctor earlier, however, all of the telephone | | | | the name and the extension of the |
| numbers listed on the doctor's purchase | | | | representative you speak with, as well as the |
| agreement were incorrect. The manager had | | | | expected arrival date for the card. If the |
| located the victim's telephone number via the | | | | card does not arrive by the expected date, |
| Internet. The victim had not purchased a new | | | | telephone the representative immediately to |
| automobile in over eight years.Further | | | | inquire about the disposition of your credit |
| investigation revealed that a | | | | card.- If an expected mail item does not |
| nineteen-year-old female from Nigeria who was | | | | arrive on the expected date, or you notice a |
| legally in the United States on a student | | | | sudden decrease in your normal amount of |
| visa had stumbled across the victim's ad for | | | | delivered mail or no mail delivery at all, |
| his medical practice in the local Yellow | | | | inquire regarding a possible fraudulent |
| Pages. After leaving his office one evening, | | | | change of address at your local post office.- |
| the victim was followed home by the female | | | | Credit accounts that are not used regularly |
| subject. The next morning the subject walked | | | | are attractive targets for identity thieves. |
| into the local post office and filled out a | | | | Cancel accounts that have not been used in |
| change of address card, replacing the | | | | the last six months or longer, and destroy |
| victim's home address with a post office box | | | | the credit cards.- Purchase a crosscutting |
| address that the female subject had purchased | | | | shredding machine. All pre-approved credit |
| earlier in the week. All of the victim's | | | | promotion documentation, check stubs, |
| personal mail would be sent to the P.O. box | | | | receipts and any documentation containing |
| instead of to his residence. Within days the | | | | personal information should be shredded |
| subject had received several items of mail | | | | before disposal.- Do not give out any |
| addressed to the victim, including | | | | personal information over the telephone. If a |
| pre-approved credit card offers and other | | | | creditor "representative" calls and requests |
| documents containing his social security | | | | that you provide them with any personal |
| number and date of birth. Within two months | | | | information, suggest that the representative |
| the subject had acquired two automobiles, a | | | | provide you with his or her telephone number |
| motorcycle, a house and multiple credit cards | | | | and extension, and inform them that you will |
| on the victim's credit. The subject was | | | | call them back momentarily with the |
| arrested and charged by the local authorities | | | | information that they are requesting. If the |
| within three months of the initial criminal | | | | telephone number does not match the toll free |
| act, however, the victim's credit was | | | | customer service number found on a monthly |
| completely destroyed.A detective with the | | | | statement or on the back of the credit card |
| local police department who had befriended | | | | issued to you by that creditor, call the |
| the victim during the investigative process | | | | actual customer service toll-free telephone |
| stated that he telephoned the victim | | | | number to inquire about the validity of the |
| approximately two years after the subject had | | | | call.- Order an unlisted home telephone |
| been arrested. The victim had been forced to | | | | number, or at a minimum request that your |
| close his medical practice and retire early | | | | name be listed in the local telephone |
| due to the incident.The victim - A regional | | | | directory by an initial and last name, and |
| sales manager traveling in GeorgiaThe victim | | | | request that your home address be removed |
| fell asleep in his hotel room early one | | | | from your listing.- Do not participate in |
| evening after a day filled with meetings and | | | | telemarketing promotions, and have your |
| conference calls. After exiting the shower at | | | | information removed from promotional lists. |
| approximately 7:00AM the next morning, the | | | | Telemarketing lists are bought and sold by |
| victim noticed that his wallet, briefcase and | | | | companies and individuals on a daily basis. |
| laptop computer were missing from the hotel | | | | Once you have participated in a promotion |
| room. Further investigation revealed that the | | | | over the telephone or by mail, (even if the |
| victim had not secured the dead-bolt lock on | | | | promotion offers a free product or service), |
| the hotel room door the night before. Someone | | | | you will notice an immediate increase in the |
| utilized a pass card-key to enter the | | | | amount of promotional mail and in the number |
| victim's hotel room while he was sleeping and | | | | of telemarketing calls you receive. This |
| acquired the missing items.Before the victim | | | | greatly increases your risk of becoming an |
| could finish speaking with the local police | | | | identity theft victim.- Do not utilize your |
| and report the incident to his corporate | | | | credit card on the Internet until you have |
| office, his corporate calling card number had | | | | read in full the company's privacy policy, |
| been sold to several subjects at the local | | | | and the company's web site provides a secured |
| airport. During the six-month investigative | | | | page that utilizes data encryption for credit |
| process involving the victim's case along | | | | card information. Many companies inform |
| with several others, (all of which originated | | | | e-commerce customers in the fine print |
| at the same hotel), the victim's personal | | | | contained in their privacy policy that by |
| information was utilized to open several | | | | purchasing their products via their web site, |
| credit card accounts and to receive several | | | | you agree to accept all of the terms and |
| high interest cash loans.The victim - A | | | | agreements contained in their privacy policy. |
| Georgia homeownerThe victim received a | | | | Quite often those terms include the |
| telephone call one morning from a major | | | | re-distribution of your personal information |
| credit card company customer service | | | | to other companies and creditors.- Do not use |
| representative who worked in the theft and | | | | a check or bank card on the Internet.- |
| fraud department. He was calling to inquire | | | | Closely monitor all monthly bank and credit |
| about the unusually high dollar amounts that | | | | card account statements for fraudulent |
| had been charged on the victim's recently | | | | withdrawals and charges. Keep monthly |
| opened credit card account. The victim had | | | | statements for a minimum of one year.- If |
| not opened any credit card accounts in over | | | | your social security number is utilized as |
| five years. The representative then | | | | your drivers license number, have it changed. |
| recommended that the victim call the local | | | | Do not have your social security number |
| police and file a police report.The victim | | | | printed on personal checks.- Order a copy of |
| was informed by a police department | | | | your credit report at least twice annually.- |
| supervisor that for three days they had | | | | Maintain one document, preferably in a fire |
| received several similar complaints from the | | | | proof security file or safe along with birth |
| same subdivision. Further investigation | | | | certificates, social security cards, your |
| revealed that a male subject posing as a | | | | home inventory and other important |
| door-to-door solicitor had retrieved several | | | | documentation that contains the company name, |
| envelopes containing pre-approved credit card | | | | account number, telephone number and the |
| promotions from mailboxes throughout the | | | | family member names on each open credit |
| subdivision.(I was an arresting officer | | | | account. This will speed up the reporting |
| involved with the following case)The victims | | | | process should you ever become an identity |
| - Five major Atlanta area retail outletsA | | | | theft victim.If you suspect that you or |
| search warrant was successfully obtained for | | | | someone that you know has become a victim of |
| an apartment located in Dekalb County. The | | | | identity theft, contact your local law |
| two male residents were suspected of | | | | enforcement agency immediately to obtain a |
| fraudulently ordering and receiving | | | | police report. Early documentation is |
| merchandise via the Internet from several | | | | crucial. Send a copy of the following letter |
| Atlanta area retail locations. Upon entering | | | | to the major credit reporting agencies:////// |
| the residence officers observed several | | | | ////SAMPLE LETTER//////////////////Re: (Your |
| expensive and obviously new items of | | | | full legal name/no initials) |
| merchandise located throughout the entire | | | | |
| home, including:- One twelve foot tall | | | | Social Security No:__________________ |
| artificial Christmas tree containing | | | | |
| hand-blown glass ornaments valued at | | | | Date of Birth:___________________ |
| $3000.00- Two forty inch projection | | | | |
| television sets (one in the living room and | | | | Social Security No:__________________ |
| one in the master bedroom)- Unopened boxes in | | | | |
| the dining room containing several sets of | | | | Date of Birth:___________________ |
| crystal and china valued at $10,000.00- | | | | |
| Several unopened boxes located throughout the | | | | Spouses' Name:_____________ |
| home containing computer equipment including | | | | |
| monitors and PC towers valued at | | | | Social Security No:_________________ |
| $16,000.00Investigative efforts revealed that | | | | |
| the two subjects had obtained a Customer | | | | Date of |
| Credit Listing book from another individual | | | | Birth:______________Dear_____________,In |
| who was at one time an employee of a credit | | | | accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting |
| reporting agency. The book was the size of a | | | | Act, and for the protection of my credit |
| telephone book and contained thousands of | | | | information, I respectfully request that you |
| listings in alphabetical order of Atlanta | | | | take the following actions immediately:- |
| area credit customers by full name, last | | | | Provide me with my current credit report. |
| known mailing address, last known level of | | | | (Enclosed find $_____)- Please add the |
| income and even social security and date of | | | | following consumer alert to my credit report: |
| birth information.The subjects had | | | | "Do not issue credit without telephoning me |
| highlighted certain names, (prioritized by | | | | first at the following number: __________." |
| income level), and had utilized the victim's | | | | (This is an excellent deterrent for |
| personal information to obtain several credit | | | | imposters!)- Please remove my name from any |
| cards from the retail locations. The subjects | | | | and all market mailing and promotional lists. |
| would then utilize the credit cards to order | | | | (Call 888-5OPTOUT to request information |
| merchandise.Five retail outlets dispatched | | | | removal for all three credit-reporting |
| seven large panel trucks to retrieve their | | | | agencies as well.)- Please do not change my |
| merchandise from the residence.During the | | | | mailing address or telephone number without |
| preliminary hearing for one of the subjects, | | | | my prior authorization in writing.- My |
| officers knew that the subject was a major | | | | current address is: _________________ |
| flight risk and were not pleased with the | | | | |
| inadequate cash bond amount that the | | | | - My current telephone number at my office |
| presiding judge had placed on the subject. An | | | | is: _____________ |
| officer approached the bench and placed the | | | | |
| large Customer Credit Listing book down in | | | | - My current telephone number at my home is: |
| front of the judge, opened it to a | | | | _____________Enclosed you will find a copy of |
| book-marked page and pointed to the only line | | | | a current utility bill to confirm the |
| of highlighted text on the page. Both | | | | accuracy of the above information.Please do |
| subjects were denied bail by the judge and | | | | not provide my credit information to anyone |
| were ordered to remain in jail until their | | | | without my prior authorization via telephone, |
| trial date.The judges' credit information was | | | | fax, or in writing.Please provide me with the |
| highlighted.Identity thieves will utilize | | | | necessary information so that I may set up a |
| anyone's personal information in any way | | | | password to use for telephonic communications |
| imaginable in order to profit financially, | | | | with your agency.If I do not receive anything |
| including but not limited to:- Procuring | | | | from you in writing within ten (10) business |
| monies from the victim's established | | | | days from the date in which you signed the |
| accounts- Obtaining credit cards from banks | | | | return receipt for this letter, I will assume |
| and retailers- Applying for and receiving | | | | that you unconditionally agree to insure that |
| cash loans- Financing the purchase of | | | | the above actions are taken.Thank you in |
| anything from automobiles to firearms | | | | advance for your prompt attention to this |
| (identity theft is a simple way for convicted | | | | matter.Respectfully yours,///////////SAMPLE |
| felons to by-pass gun laws, including | | | | LETTER//////////////////J.C. Hurst is the IT |
| background checks and waiting periods)- | | | | Internet Marketing Director |
| Establishing accounts with utility companies- | | | | |
| Obtaining a home loan or renting a home or | | | | for The Ziegler Corporations.You may contact |
| apartment- Obtaining employment- Filing for | | | | J.C. at 800.726.0510 -or- |
| bankruptcy (in the victim's name)Methods | | | | |
| utilized by identity thieves for obtaining a | | | | J.C. Hurst is the IT/Internet Marketing |
| victim's personal information include but are | | | | Director |
| not limited to:- "Dumpster diving" or sifting | | | | |
| through garbage at a victim's residence, | | | | for The Ziegler Corporations.You may contact |
| place of business or any retail | | | | J.C. at 800.726. |
| establishment, restaurant, night club, | | | | |