Identity Theft
ID Theft FAQ's
Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. It happens in Jefferson County and it could happen to you. The more you know about identity theft, the safer you will be.
Facts About Identity Theft
It is estimated that as many as 750,000 people nationwide become victims of identity theft each year [Denver Post, 1/23/03].
Identity theft is the biggest and fastest growing consumer problem in the state, according to the Oregon attorney general's office.
Victims of identity theft spend approximately 175 hours and $1,000 of their own money trying to amend their credit reports, deal with their creditors and work with law enforcement.
Identity theft is not merely a crime among the elderly; it is a crime that can affect anyone: lawyers, professional athletes, celebrities ... even deputies.
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is when someone fictitiously or without authorization assumes your identity and in so doing subjects you to civil liability, criminal prosecution, collections, etc.
Most Common Forms of Identity Theft in Jefferson County
Flagging: Identity thieves look for the raised flag on your mailbox. They take letters addressed to creditors that may contain checks and personal information. The thieves then "wash" checks and write their own name into the "Pay to the order of" line, and cash the check. It may take months to discover this form of identity theft.
Skimming: Skimming involves the use of a small electronic device to capture your account information from debit or credit cards. Skimmers can be hand-held or affixed to ATM machines.
Dumpster Diving: Identity thieves search your discarded trash for pre-approved credit card applications or other personal financial documents, and then use the information therein to make purchases.
Phishing: Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent Web sites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them. Visit the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
Suspicious About Identity Theft?
Contact all your financial institutions if you're ever suspicious about identity theft.
You can contact major check verification companies directly for the following services:
To request that they notify retailers who use their databases not to accept your checks, call:
TeleCheck
1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
Certegy, Inc.
1-800-437-5120
To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call: SCAN: 1-800-262-7771
