Stop, thief! Identity theft tips aid seniors, others
October 30, 2009
By JIM MERRITT
Special to Newsday
What is a consumer to do when a Social Security number, address and personal information have been stolen.
It was a nasty trick, and no treat. Last month, Ms. H, who lives on the South Shore, received a letter from her drug benefits administrator, alerting her to a potential financial nightmare.
Ms. H, 81, learned that she was among the victims of a massive identity theft, which had occurred the year before, but was discovered only recently.
Her Social Security number, home address and other personal information were in the hands of a thief, who was threatening to disclose the information to extort money from the company. (The case is now being investigated by the FBI.)
How they steal
Some steal your wallet or mail to obtain your Social Security number. But more sophisticated identity thieves collect personal data through the Internet, deceptive phone calls to their targets and ID card "skimming."
Some steal your wallet or mail to obtain your Social Security number. But more sophisticated identity thieves collect personal data through the Internet, deceptive phone calls to their targets and ID card "skimming."
The information can be used to obtain financing on an automobile, or even to apply for a mortgage on a home, using personal information gathered without your consent -- or even knowledge -- from private records.
(Worth going to SOURCE for full-text)
Abridged
SOURCE: NewsDay.Com
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