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Identity theft is a growing concern in our community. This
crime occurs when a criminal uses your account or personal information,
such as your birth date, address, driver's license number or social
security number to secure loans, credit cards, checks, or merchandise.
 As victims of identity theft will attest, fighting
the consequences is a long, drawn-out, nerve-wracking process. On average,
victims will spend upwards of 180 hours to repair the damage done to their
credit record. The good news is that many relatively simple steps can be
taken to dramatically reduce the risk of becoming a victim of ID theft in
the first place.
Cases of identity theft are on the rise
all over the country. While investigators work diligently to solve cases of
identity theft that have already occurred, arrests do not always shut down
the network of fraud artists. Unfortunately, fraud artists are often
electronically skilled and therefore quickly and efficiently able to share
personal information they collect about you with their cohorts.
The most effective way to fight identity
theft is to educate our community in prevention methods. Together we can
impede easy access to your personal information by fraud artists.
I encourage Baker County residents to take a few minutes to learn about identity theft,
discover ways to safeguard personal information, and to consider educating
others in the various communities you enjoy in Baker County.
The tools for fighting identity theft
are available - we just need your help in using them to build a community
that is more resilient to these crimes.
Tips
on Preventing Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs
when a criminal uses your account or personal information, such as your
birthdate, address, driver’s license or social security number, and uses it
to secure loans, credit cards, checks, or merchandise. The good news is
that many, relatively simple steps can dramatically reduce the risk of
becoming a victim of identity theft in the first place:
- Destroy papers you do not need such as
old credit card and ATM receipts, checks, deposit slips, insurance
papers, pay stubs, tax records, pre-approved credit card offers, etc.
Also remove the address portion of your junk mail.
- Guard your social security
number. Do
not carry it with you, and only give it out if absolutely necessary.
The video store does not need to have it, but a bank might. Do not
have it printed on your checks and be aware that many medical
insurance companies use the SSN as part of the policy
number.
- Never write down PINs and
passwords:
memorize them. Do not use any part of your Social Security number,
your name or any easy to guess words or sequences.
- Guard your personal
information.
Do not carry anything you do not need, including Social Security card,
birth certificate, or extra credit cards. Lost and stolen wallets are
a common way that imposters access your information. Get credit cards
with your picture on them.
- Keep confidential
information in a safe or locked area. Invest in a high security, locking
mailbox. Mail theft is THE MOST POPULAR way for criminals to steal
your identity.
- Do not leave paid bills in
your mailbox
for the mail carrier to pick up.
- Check your credit card
statements
and immediately report unauthorized purchases.
- Do not allow sales clerks
to copy your credit card numbers on to checks for additional information.
- Call your credit card
company if
your card has expired and you have not received a new one.
- Check your credit report
once a year.
(3 or 4 times a year if you have been a victim of mail theft or had
your wallet stolen) There is typically a fee for this service, unless
you were denied credit recently. The three major credit agencies are:
- Equifax at 1-888-766-0008
- Experian (formerly TRW) at 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289
- Do not buy
anything over the telephone or internet unless you initiated the
call or transaction. NEVER give your personal information, credit
card, or social security number over the telephone to someone claiming
that you won a prize.
If
you suspect you might be a victim or identity theft, contact the Baker
County Sheriff’s
Office or your local law enforcement immediately at (503) 523-6415.
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