USU police warn against identity theft
Identity theft comes in many different forms, including Social Security, driver’s license and credit card fraud, said Utah State University police officer Stewart Hunsaker.
“It’s not going away, it’s here to stay,” Hunsaker said.
And while he said billions of dollars are stolen each year because of such thefts, there are ways to protect against identity thieves.
“People need to be aware of their surroundings,” he said. “I don’t want to encourage people to live in fear, but to be aware.”
Hunsaker said removing cards or papers with important information from a purse or wallet is the first step to protecting against identity theft.
Carrying a wallet or purse instead of leaving it in a car is one way to protect yourself, he said. Car thievery most often is not about the car or the merchandise, it’s about the personal information inside, Hunsaker said. He recalled automobile break-ins where hundreds of dollars worth of CDs and other merchandise were left untouched; the thief was only interested in a purse and the potentially valuable personal information inside it, he said.
“Don’t leave your purse in your car,” Hunsaker said. “Don’t stick it under the seat. Take it with you.”
At the grocery store, bank or restaurant, Hunsaker warned against “shoulder surfers” – people who peer over shoulders in line to steal credit card numbers. Also, he said to watch for people with their cell phones out in lines because “cell phone cameras are pretty good now.”
Mail theft is another vehicle identity thieves use for stealing personal information, Hunsaker said. It is an underreported crime because most people can’t tell if their mail was stolen, he said.
Hunsaker added, when mailing bills, to drop mail off at the post office directly or in the secure blue mailboxes by the street. When people check their mailboxes and they’re empty, most people assume they just didn’t get any mail that day, he said. But a thief could have already snatched a credit card application, he said.
If someone receives an offer for a credit card in the mail, he said they should not only throw it away, but shred it.
The USU police department is offering classes for small groups or individuals who would like to know more about identity theft. The USU police also have resource material to help inform the public about identity theft and the dangers associated with it.
To arrange for a time to meet, call the USU police non-emergency phone number, 797-1939.
-ranaebang@cc.usu.edu