Indiana State Police Offer Steps to Prevent Identity Theft

PENDLETON, IN - 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.

 Source: Indiana State Police