Tennessee - The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office reported a case of identity theft over the weekend when a woman discovered her bank account was overdrawn. She contacted her bank and was told the account has four charges pending in Illinois. Those transactions amount to several hundred dollars.
Another woman received notice from a collection agency of an unpaid bill for a computer that was purchased two years ago. She filed a police report denying any knowledge of the purchase.
Last week a woman learned of charges in her name amounting to several thousand dollars that were made without her knowledge.
The sheriff’s office investigated several assaults over the weekend. In one investigation both parties involved in the disagreement were arrested for domestic assault. In another, a 17-year-old was named in Juvenile Court papers charged with assault for verbal threats he made.
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The advertisements are intentionally frightening: If someone steals your identity, you could lose your home, your job, even your life. The ads are meant to scare you into buying identity-theft protection. And while the problem is real, insurance isn’t always the answer.
In fact, most consumers could better protect their identities if they guard their Social Security numbers, read their bank and credit-card statements, request their free credit reports and enroll in state security freeze programs.
“If it hits, it could be quite destructive to your life for a long time,” said Linda Foley, co-director of the Identity Theft Resource Center in San Diego. “Identity theft is not a picnic, but it is repairable.”
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“Why did you miss jury duty?” the caller asks in a threatening tone. The phone call, according to federal officials, is the latest ploy used by crafty individuals to coerce citizens to provide-over the phone-their Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal information.
The hoax works like this. Perpetrators, pretending to be court employees, call potential jurors demanding to know why they didn’t show up for jury duty. They then inform the individuals about the legal consequences associated with neglecting jury services, such as fines and prosecution.
The bogus phone calls, if convincing to the recipient, will probably lead to the disclosure of personal information, thus setting the stage for identity theft and fraud. The legal penalties, especially when presented in an intimidating fashion “are used as leverage to obtain personal information,” says Dick Carelli, a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the agency assisting the federal court system. In August, the agency issued a public alert on the swindle, stating that most communication between the court and a prospective juror will occur through the U.S. mail and any phone calls to citizens will not ask for private information, such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers.
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Keeping personal information confidential can be best to prevent identity theft, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka said. Southern Illinois University is starting to identify ways to make this easier for students.
Cergio Brown, a sophomore studying accounting, had no problem displaying his student identification card. He had his student ID number removed from it.
Of the 9.9 million U.S. citizens expected to fall victim to identity theft, people ages 18 to 29 are at the highest risk, Topinka said at an identity theft seminar at the Carbondale (Ill.) Civic Center Wednesday.
Students’ social security numbers are used as their student ID number at the University, unless a student requests a different number. The number is then printed on bills and some mail from the University.
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A federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment today charging four individuals with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in connection with a scheme involving the use of stolen identities to obtain mortgage loans.
United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and others, announced that Charlotine Pierre, age 26, of 122 Hamilton Street, Saugus, Dotty Pierre, age 25, of 6 Holyoke Street, Saugus, Provilon Duverge, age 29, of 122 Hamilton Street, Saugus, and Frantzcia Pierre, age 25, of 88 Francis Street, Everett, were charged in an Indictment with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation last week that will help prevent identity theft in California. Among the provisions, the legislation will increase the penalties for “spam,” ban the use of equipment to make fake documents, prohibit prisoners from accessing personal information while in work programs, and authorize the Department of Managed Healthcare to perform criminal background checks for state employees and others who have access to medical information.
“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “We must do everything we can to close the vulnerable pathways that allow thieves to steal personal information. The effects of identity theft can be devastating and take years to recover from.”
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