Identity Theft
Pendleton, Indiana
-- Lt. Mike Lepper,
Commander of the Pendleton
Post, would like to remind
citizens that Identity Theft
is one of the fastest
growing crimes in America.
It’s Tuesday afternoon
around 3 p.m. and you check
your answering machine and
get a pre-recorded message
from a major credit card
company wanting to verify
you made an $8,000 purchase
at a local retail store in
your town. You are no longer
who you say you are. You now
have to prove who you are.
You may even have to apply
for a new social security
number and make sure when
you retire there is no
confusion about your total
earnings and receiving your
benefits. Attorney fees to
get your life back and name
back could run into
thousands of dollars. Sounds
like a dream, but you awaken
to the nightmare of getting
your identity back. It could
happen to you!
Steps
to prevent Identity Theft
1. Release your Social
Security number only when
absolutely necessary.
2. Do not have your
Social Security number
printed on your checks or
driver’s license.
3. When you order new
checks have them delivered
to your bank and not your
home.
4. Order your Social
Security Earnings Statement
once a year to check for
fraud.
5. Cross-Cut shred your
credit card receipts, bills,
and other financial
information.
6. Order your credit
report once a year to check
for inaccuracies and fraud.
7. Do not leave envelopes
containing bill payments in
your mailbox.
8. Do not carry credit
cards, social security
cards, birth certificates,
passports in your wallet.
9. Do not create PIN
numbers by utilizing your
house address, date of
birth, or consecutive
numbers.
Protect Your Identity
