Neighborhood Watch

Identity Theft Prevention Tips
From Investigator Paul Edwards

Individuals:

When possible put your out going mail in one of the collection boxes around town. Thieves steal incoming and outgoing mail from private mailboxes. They look for checks written to creditors and “wash” the intended recipient’s name from the check replacing it with their own then cash them. They also look for mail from credit card companies. The account numbers are used over the internet for fraudulent purchases. When possible, pay your bills online and notify credit card companies and banks not to send reports or bills by mail. Have your blank check orders delivered to your bank rather than your mailbox. Is your social security number on your driver’s license? If so then have it changed to an operator license number. If you don’t each time you write a check and present your driver’s license, a stranger now has your account number, social security number and routing number.

Don’t just throw away credit applications or credit card checks…. shred them. Also see about using debit cards instead of checks. There is less chance of someone getting your information that way. Once a year contact credit bureaus and check your credit. While talking to them see about protecting your account with a pass word. If someone attempts to open an account with your name, the companies will contact you. This will reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.

When you get home at night, take every thing out of your vehicle. Thieves are there for the smash and grab type items. Many ID theft cases begin as entering autos where checkbooks, wallets etc are stolen. Suspects break into cars where they see certain type of items, like I pods, cameras, laptops, and attaché cases.

What can businesses can do to help prevent ID theft?

When customers come in with checks already made out with work numbers, drivers license #, and dates of births be cautious. Most people do not fill them out until they are at the register. When looking at identification, don’t just look to see if the names match, look at the picture. Be alert for counterfeit ID’s.

If customers enter the business wearing a hat, sunglasses etc use caution when taking their checks. There has been an increase in criminals wearing hats in other counties (to defeat video surveillance) passing forged, stolen, counterfeit checks.

Another reminder for businesses that use VHS recorders for security, clean your VHS head at least once a week. Have 30 VHS tapes and change them out every day. Clean and refocus the camera lens. Remember we can only see what the tape records, and if it’s fuzzy, or very dirty, identification of the suspect(s) will be very difficult for law enforcement. View a video from your surveillance system. If you wouldn’t be able to identify the people you see on the recording, neither would investigators. Consider updating your surveillance system if necessary.

Other Identity Theft Advice

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.

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.

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.

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc so 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. Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror
stories about fraud that's committed on us by stealing a name, address, Social Security number, or credit cards.

Here's some critical information to limit the damage in
case this happens to you or someone you know:

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.

File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves
to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation.

But here's what is perhaps most important of all:

Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and
Social Security number. 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. There are records of all the credit checks
initiated by the thieves' purchases. Here are the numbers you always need to know when your wallet, etc. has been stolen:

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


Identity Theft Prevention Tips
		Identity Theft Prevention Tips From Investigator Paul Edwards Individuals: When possible put your out going mail in one of the collection boxes around town. Thieves steal incoming and outgoing mail from private mailboxes. They look for checks written to creditors and “wash” the intended recipient’s name from the check replacing it with their own then cash them. They also look for mail from credit card companies. The account numbers are used over the internet for fraudulent purchases. When possible, pay your bills online and notify credit card companies and banks not to send reports or bills by mail. Have your blank check orders delivered to your bank rather than your mailbox. Is your social security number on your driver’s license? If so then have it changed to an operator license number. If you don’t each time you write a check and present your driver’s license, a stranger now has your account number, social security number and routing number. Don’t just throw away credit applications or credit card checks…. shred them. Also see about using debit cards instead of checks. There is less chance of someone getting your information that way. Once a year contact credit bureaus and check your credit. While talking to them see about protecting your account with a pass word. If someone attempts to open an account with your name, the companies will contact you. This will reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. When you get home at night, take every thing out of your vehicle. Thieves are there for the smash and grab type items. Many ID theft cases begin as entering autos where checkbooks, wallets etc are stolen. Suspects break into cars where they see certain type of items, like I pods, cameras, laptops, and attaché cases. What can businesses can do to help prevent ID theft? When customers come in with checks already made out with work numbers, drivers license #, and dates of births be cautious. Most people do not fill them out until they are at the register. When looking at identification, don’t just look to see if the names match, look at the picture. Be alert for counterfeit ID’s. If customers enter the business wearing a hat, sunglasses etc use caution when taking their checks. There has been an increase in criminals wearing hats in other counties (to defeat video surveillance) passing forged, stolen, counterfeit checks. Another reminder for businesses that use VHS recorders for security, clean your VHS head at least once a week. Have 30 VHS tapes and change them out every day. Clean and refocus the camera lens. Remember we can only see what the tape records, and if it’s fuzzy, or very dirty, identification of the suspect(s) will be very difficult for law enforcement. View a video from your surveillance system. If you wouldn’t be able to identify the people you see on the recording, neither would investigators. Consider updating your surveillance system if necessary. Other Identity Theft Advice 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. 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. 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. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc so 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. Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us by stealing a name, address, Social Security number, or credit cards. Here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know: 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. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation. But here's what is perhaps most important of all: Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. 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. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases. Here are the numbers you always need to know when your wallet, etc. has been stolen: 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
	To add your neighborhood to Bibb County’s Neighborhood Watch Program Call: Lt. George Meadows at (478) 621-6890
	Copyright © 2002 Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. All rights reserved. This information is made available to the public and law enforcement in the interest of public safety. Any unauthorized use of this information is forbidden and subject to criminal prosecution.
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