Local News - February 2003

ID theft increasing

Precautions urged

From staff reports

February 14, 2003 - Identity theft is on a roll and it’s getting worse, according to Lt. Leroy Buff of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

He said his own research produces some “scary” results.

Buff presented a program on identification theft at the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Networking luncheon Thursday at the Lincoln County Cultural Center. The luncheon was sponsored by Miller Sherrill Blake, CPA, and Katie Wood Inc.

From 2001 to 2002, the offense increased by 104 percent in North Carolina. State Attorney General Roy Cooper has put ID theft as a top priority for his office.

What makes this theft so popular is that it is fairly easy to do, Buff said.

“All you need is somebody’s Social Security number to steal an identity.”

And often, that is found in paperwork made carelessly available.

Buff advises shredding of personal documents that contain personal financial information. He said you should limit the use of personal checks, which often contain the exact information needed for identity theft.

It’s also a good idea to check on your credit rating once a year to make sure something isn’t already taking place with your identification.

If you do discover someone is using your name, call your local law enforcement agency and file a report. ID theft is a federal crime.

You should also call the credit reporting agencies and have a fraud alert put on your records. File an ID theft affidavit. You can receive instructions by calling 877-ID-THEFT.

He also offered these prevention tips:

· Don’t share financial information on the phone or Internet.

· Don’t put your Social Security number or driver’s license number on checks.

· Send a letter to credit reporting agencies to stop issuing credit reports for pre-approved credit cards.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

Terms and Conditions