Concealed Carry

The theft of the identity of individuals is on the rise in America today. CBS news reports there is an identity stolen every seventy-nine (79) seconds in this country. As a matter of fact, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. In the past five years some twenty-seven (27) million people have become victims. This form of theft is not easily rectified by contacting your insurance agency as it can devastate your credit history and your ability to secure loans. The problem this crime creates cannot be fixed by your local law enforcement officers. It is the responsibility of the victim to follow up with the three credit bureaus and dispute any fraudulent accounts.

1. Invest in a paper shredder. Shred all documents which have personal information on them such as name, address and account numbers. Thieves are known to go through trash prior to the collection by a refuse hauler.

2. People are encouraged not to release personal information over the internet or the phone. In today's society we know it is almost impossible not to, so we suggest you use only one account to purchase items over the phone or internet. It is important not to use this card for anything else and be certain it is not a check or debit card.

3. If you receive calls requesting personal information, try to get a phone number and return their call. Over the past several months, folks have indicated they received calls saying they had won vacations or some other valuable and to receive the prize they needed to prove who they were by giving out a credit card number. NEVER PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THEM. Always remember, these criminals like to prey on the elderly.

4. We recommend you check your credit history every six months. These reports can be obtained once a year for free.

Credit Bureau	Report Consumer Fraud	Request Credit Report	Removal from Mailing Lists
CSC Credit Services (Equifax Regional Office), P.O. Box 674402, Houston, TX 77267-4402	800-272-9281 and write to address at left	800-759-5979	800-759-5979
Experian (Formerly TRW), P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013	888-397-3742 or 800-301-7195 and write to address at left	888-397-3472 or 800-682-7654	800-353-0809 and write to: Experian, P.O. Box 919, Allen, TX 75013
Trans Union, P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064	800-680-7289 and write to: Fraud Victim Asst. Div., P.O. Box 6790, Springfield, PA 19064	800-888-4213	800-680-7293 and write to: Trans Union, P.O. Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39328

5. Check your computer for SPYWEAR. Several free programs can be located at www.download.com

If you have questions regarding identity theft or internet crimes, please e-mail Deputy Ryan Furlong at rfurlong@co.logan.oh.us