Friday, December 29, 2000
Friday, December 29, 2000 |
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Several identity theft cases reported by PTC residents; police urge caution
By JOHN
MUNFORD
Three cases of identity fraud have been reported to the Peachtree City Police Department in the past two weeks. In one case, an elderly woman was notified that someone ordered over $400 in merchandise through a company in her name. In another, a man reported that someone had attempted to open a money market account in his name. Another man has reported that someone used his personal information to open several accounts without his permission. The days of trusting someone with your personal information are over, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray. With the advent of shopping on the Internet, it is becoming easier for criminals to access information they can use to commit fraud with your name. "It can turn into a nightmare," Murray said. The chief recommended that residents particularly be careful in disposing credit card applications that come in the mail. Shredding those and other documents with personal information on them helps protect that information from falling into the wrong hands. "People will go in the trash to get that information," the chief warned. It's also important to protect personal identification numbers and never give them out on the phone to solicitors, Murray added. "We also urge people to follow up with the credit bureaus to see if their information is correct," Murray said, adding that credit bureaus offer one free report annually to Georgia residents. Credit reports may be sought from the following agencies: Equifax, P.O. Box 105873, Atlanta, Ga., 30348-2493 (1-800-997-2493) Experian Information Solutions (formerly TRW), P.O. Box 949, Allen, Tex., 75013-0949 (1-888-397-3742) TransUnion, P.O. Box 390, Springfield, Penn., 19064-0390 (1-800-916-8800) The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the financial industry have also published a list of recommendations to help prevent identity fraud: Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery. Deposit outgoing mail in collection mailboxes or at the post office instead of unsecured mailboxes. Shred credit card receipts, bills and other financial information you don't want before discarding it in the trash. Don't carry extra credit cards and ID cards or cancel the ones you don't use. Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles or unattended gasoline pumps. Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills. Contact companies if financial statements are not timely received in the mail. Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately. Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering prizes or awards that are designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers. Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal financial data at any web site or online service Beware of con artists who may ask you to "confirm" your enrollment in an interactive service site by disclosing passwords.
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