Crime Tips from Officer Henry Slack

Here is Officer Henry Slack's E-Force Crime Tips for July:

Due to an increase in Identity Theft this month’s topic is Identity Theft, below are some things to consider.

Definition:
A person commits an offense if the person obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses an item of identifying information of another person without the other person’s consent
(name, social security number, date of birth, and government-issued identification number) and with intent to harm or defraud another. An offense under this section is a State Jail Felony.

How thieves get your information:
They steal wallets and purses containing your identification, credit and bank cards, or they find the purse or wallet you lost. They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information. They complete a “change of address form” to divert your mail to another location. They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as “dumpster diving”. They obtain your information from inside your own home. They use personal information you share on the Internet. They scam
you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies you do business with and many other deceitful ways.

The EPPD does not solicit for donations from the public!

What they do with your Identity: They call your credit card issuer, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. They will apply for credit on-line and have the card sent to an address they have access to. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there’s a problem. They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and SSN. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

What can you do?
Minimize the risk by safeguarding accounts, SSN (Social Security Number), or any monetary account, using PIN (personal identification numbers); shred your junk and old mail, and bills.

Order a free copy of your credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com , once a year report.
Notify the Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 www.ssa.gov
Notify the Internal Revenue Service 1-800-829-1040 www.irs.gov

Other helpful contacts:
Texas DPS expunctions@txdps.state.tx.us (criminal records)
Direct Marketing Association www.the-dma.org to keep your name off corporate marketing and billing databases 5 yearsTelemarketing No Call
Lists for the state www.texasnocall.com (866)896-6225
Federal No Call List www.donotcall.gov (888)382-1222
Texas Office of Attorney General www.oag.state.tx.us (800)-621-0508
1-888-567-8688 to
OPT out of receiving credit offers in the mail


Sincerely,

Officer H. Slack #2106, Crime
Prevention Officer
Central Regional Command
915-838-8013