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| ID theft expected to increase in 2009 |
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| By COURTNEY McCANN |
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12/28/2008 - A few months ago, Donna Hicks made what she thought would be a routine stop at the bank to pick up some cash.
She entered her PIN into the ATM and typed in the amount she wished to withdraw. But instead of getting a handful of crisp $20 bills, Hicks got an error message.
"It kept saying to try a lower amount," the 48-year-old Atlantic City resident said. "I said 'Hold on a minute, I know I have more money than that in there.'"
It turns out she was wrong. Hicks later learned that her debit card number was stolen at a nearby gas station. The thieves had drained her bank account and racked up a $1,000 negative balance.
"I had to cancel my cards. I had to cancel my direct deposit," Hicks said. "It took a few weeks. And I was like 'What am I supposed to do now?'"
Hicks is one of many who have fallen victim to identity theft. And experts warn that thieves are only going to be more persistent and more creative in 2009. According to a new study by the Identity Theft Resource Center, thieves are using the struggling economy, job cuts and the housing crisis to their advantage.
"We're seeing more people getting hit with the employment scams," said Jay Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "More people getting hit with different scams to suck info out of them for mortgages."
Foley predicts that 2009 will see an increase in real estate and credit card scams as thieves draw victims in with promises of low-interest home loans or the opportunity to get a credit card despite having a low credit score.
Bogus employment offers are also on the rise thanks to job seekers posting resumes on the Internet in hopes of reaching more employers.
"You want a job, you put a resume out on the Internet with Career Builder, or whoever," Foley said. "Now scammers are actually contacting you saying 'We looked at your resume and we have a job for you.'"
These "jobs" often turn out to be phony accounting positions that sucker victims into setting up bank accounts for fraudulent checks.
"Bottom line, you're going to be held responsible for the funds that go in and out of that account," Foley said. "They come after you as a co-conspirator for a crime."
Other job scams are less involved but still wreak havoc on one's finances.
Brent Michallis, 20, of Tuckerton, thought he was applying for a job at a post office when he answered a classified ad earlier this year. But it turned out to be a company that promised to sell him materials he would need to help prepare for a career in the postal service. Before Michallis knew it, the company had his credit card numbers and was racking up charges.
"I realized pretty quick that they were taking me for a ride," Michallis said. "So I had to call and get the charges erased."
In addition to these new identity-theft techniques, experts warn consumers to be on the lookout for more common types of theft when shopping in stores or online. With so many people hitting stores to return gifts or take advantage of post-holiday sales, their credit and bank account numbers are more exposed and at risk of being stolen.
"A lady was telling me the other day that she was at The Pier (at Caesars Atlantic City) and had her card number stolen," Hicks said. "One guy distracted her in line by talking to her while a guy on the other side of her looked at her pin number."
It can take the Identity Theft Resource Center nearly 18 months to clear up an average case, said Foley, adding that consumers are still too casual when it comes to protecting personal information.
"Most people are still under the mindset that it would happen to someone else," Foley said. "Or that it's just someone trying to steal your credit card number. But it can be a lot more complex than that."
Foley recommends that consumers keep a closer eye on their personal information and read job offers and other e-mail notifications carefully.
"Before you jump into anything, investigate it," Foley said. "If a company says they're part of Geico, check on them. Make sure that they do."
Products like LifeLock and TrustedID being sold to help prevent identity theft should also be investigated prior to purchase.
"Make sure (the product) does what you need it to do," Foley said. "And understand that there is no one product that will solve the problem for everyone. Because there are too many ways for ID theft to hit you."
E-mail Courtney McCann:
CMcCann@pressofac.com
How to prevent identity theft
n If you want to use debit cards, link them to a bank account with only a small amount of money in it, not to your only bank account. If the card has a VISA or Mastercard logo on it, the thief can use it without a PIN. If stolen, it could be difficult to prove you didn't make the purchase when you were in the same mall that day.
n Beware of shoulder surfers. Take a few extra moments to protect credit cards, driver's licenses and checks from wandering eyes. Instead of verbally sharing requested sensitive information, write it down on a slip of paper for the clerk and take that slip of paper home with you for shredding. Do not share your credit card numbers or Social Security number in an open, public environment.
n Keep your eyes on your credit or debit cards at all times. Credit card skimming occurs when someone slides your credit card through a second machine that scans the information from the magnetic strip and stores it until it is downloaded onto a counterfeit card. Don't let a clerk or accomplice distract you from the transaction.
n When shopping online, keep a printout of the Web page(s) describing the item you ordered, any email messages and the page that shows the seller's name, address, telephone number and return policies should you have any problems. Make sure the company is on a secure server with "https" and a locked padlock.
Source: Identity Theft Resource Center
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