|
 |
 |
| Preventing identity theft |
|
| Andrea Calcagno |
|
4/7/2009 - MEDFORD, Ore. -- Officials say identity theft in the Rogue Valley has risen more than 25 percent every year for the last five years.
Authorities say too many people are giving financial information over the phone.
"Your bank never calls you up ever and asks you for information, we already have that information," says SOFCU Teller Lisa Hislebeard.
"Identity theft is probably on of the fastest growing crimes in the nation at this point. Everything from internet crimes, from fishing scams where they're calling you on the phone to mailing. Everything down to dumpster diving," says Detective Sergeant Kevin Walruff with the Medford Police Department.
When identity theft is being investigated, a victims credit and checking accounts are often frozen.
"If it's in your checking account, your checking account is going to be closed down and frozen till they can find that problem. So that means all your funds are frozen. So you may not be able to pay your bills legitimately because of this issue," says Hislebeard.
Experts recommend googling your name to see what information automatically comes up, as well as shredding financial documents, monitoring your credit report, and reporting any unusual activity to authorities.
|
|
|
|
