How to help protect yourself
Identity theft and fraud, both mail and Internet, are rising sharply in even the most remote locations. This page was designed to give you some information about how to help protect yourself from this type of crime. If you are find yourself the victim of identity theft, make sure to make contact with your financial institution and all credit card companies you do business with. You will also want to contact the law enforcement agency responsible for serving you. This will make all parties aware of the situation and also help minimize the damage that can be done to your credit. It is also a very good idea to have a written inventory stored away in a safe location that contains all credit card numbers, as well as contact phone numbers for the company that issued the card. This will make it much easier for you to make a report to the proper authorities.
More information on current scams in progress can be found on our Special Alerts page. Additionally, the links below can help you become more informed about scams and fraud. After all, having more information is the first step to being prepared to protect yourself!
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/fraud.asp
http://www.scambusters.org/backissues.html
http://www.phonebusters.com/english/index.html
Fraud Complaints to notify US Postal Inspectors- Fraud through US Mail ONLY (does NOT include UPS, FedEx, or any other shipping agency):
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm
Fraud Complaints to notify Canadian Authorities:
http://www.ic3.gov/
Advanced Fee Fraud
Advanced Fee Fraud is a new step on an old con. It involves you receiving a notice, either by mail or Internet email, that boldly states that you have won some sort of prize, or that your email address has been selected at random to be the recipient of a large sum of money. Some will even make claims that they are the long lost relative of some dictator or some such prominent figure and ask you to help them get the money, while promising you a very large sum for the help. Many will even include a counterfeit check or money order to further entice you to become a victim. While the stories vary, the means to the scam is always the same. You will receive some sort of documentation, usually in the mail or even by overnight shipping service, that supposedly helps make the offer appear legitimate. All you have to do to claim your money is to send these con artists cashiers checks or money orders to offset the "processing fees" associated with transferring this money over to you. DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY!
Always keep in mind that you do not send money to get money sent to you. It is also helpful to realize that accepting money from international lotteries is a violation of federal law. Your best bet in this type of fraud is to simply ignore the email or letter. Do not respond to it in any manner. Below are examples of a fake check and a letter received by potential victims right here in the Amarillo area:
The following steps are a common sense approach to helping protect yourself. They have been around for a while and reportedly were recommended by a corporate attorney who was a victim of identity theft himself. Following these steps can help protect you from what is becoming all too common a problem in todays society.
1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.
Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this).
3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union : 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Internet Sales Fraud
Internet Sales Fraud is when you are buying or selling items online, usually in an auction setting, and you become the victim of fraud. When making purchases, you must rely on your won common sense and things such as the reputation of the seller you are dealing with. Most auction sites have some sort of rating system in place to help you make an informed decision as to whether or not you should trust the seller.
When buying items online, it is not difficult to come across an unscrupulous individual who wants to pay you with a fraudulent credit card or send you a counterfeit payment of some sort. Here is a flyer put out by the FBI that can give you some information to try to protect you from potential fraud:
