Fraud and Identity Theft

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Fraud and Identity Theft

As a detective, fraud was one of the most difficult crimes I worked. Often, the perps are long gone by the time victims realize they've been conned. The crimes are detailed and complex, the convictions few and far between -- and victims rarely recover their losses.

Scams come and scams go -- by phone, computer, or door-to-door -- and clever cons come up with new schemes and scams all the time. But some classic con games seem to never go out of style.

Here are a few common scams to look out for:

	900 Number Credit Fix -- You call a 900 number to fix bad credit or get a new credit card. But the pitch gets you a booklet of info you might already know -- and keeps you on the line long enough to rack up some huge toll charges billed directly to you!
	The Home Improvement Swindle -- A "contractor" comes to your door offering a free service, but you end up paying for a repair you didn't need in the first place, or wouldn't have needed at all if he hadn't visited you!
	Take Over Payment Scams -- A company calls saying it will take over your car payments and sell your car for you. This call often comes if you're advertising your car for sale in the paper. But this is another form of car theft! The company takes your car . . . and it's gone! You're still stuck with the payments and are responsible for the full value of the vehicle!

Be alert, be aware -- and don't get conned! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So be suspicious!

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes around, thanks to our "wired world." ID theft costs businesses billions of dollars and claims close to a million victims a year!

Each year, approximately 700,000 people fall victim to identity thieves!

Thieves use your Social Security number, birth date, or driver's license to obtain credit cards, loans, and merchandise. They ruin your credit, and cleaning up the mess ID thieves leave behind can take you years, not to mention a lot of trouble!

Where do thieves get your numbers? One good source is your trash! A good precaution to take can cost you as little as $20. Get a good cross-cut shredder that turns your sensitive information into unreadable confetti.

Keep close tabs on your Social Security number, too. It's the key to your identity!

Don't Lose A Dime To Con Artists!

1. Don't give out personal info or credit card numbers to unsolicited phone callers.

2. Hang up on any caller who claims to be a bank official and asks you to take money out of your account. Call the police.

3. Be suspicious! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Prevent ID Theft!

1. Check your credit reports once a year.

2. Watch credit cards closely when using them in stores, to be sure they're not being copied.

3. Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards.

4. Get a cross-cut shredder to destroy sensitive papers, including all those unsolicited credit card offers.

5. Call the Post Office immediately if you're not receiving your mail.