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