Identity Protection Tips Given to Yorktown Chamber Members
Identity theft has been on the rise in recent years, and with a new year upon us, taking precautions is strongly recommended.
“It’s something that really affects everyone,” Laura Forbes, senior assistant district attorney with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, told about a dozen members of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce during a recent gathering. “It is scary. It really encompasses anything that applies to you as a person.”
In the United States, 15 million people have had their identity used fraudulently, resulting in $50 billion losses. A few years ago, 7 percent of households experienced one or more types of identity theft.
While laws vary by state, Forbes said New York has some of the strongest regulations. Identity theft is classified as a misdemeanor, but can be bumped up to a felony for repeat offenders.
“You can’t totally insulate yourself. It’s buyer beware,” Forbes warned.
Forbes, who investigates and prosecutes identity theft related crimes and Internet-based offenses, including online sexual predators, computer hacking and electronic eavesdropping, explained some of the most common identity theft crimes are committed to open bank accounts, take out mortgages and credit cards, get phone service, print counterfeit checks and collect tax refunds.
She said identities are compromised through stolen wallets, purses and mail, preapproved credit offers, dumpster diving, double swiping credit cards at restaurants, ATM skimmers at banks and unsecured personnel files at places of employment.
Forbes suggested anyone who is a victim of identity theft should file a police report. She also recommended getting a free credit report annually, shredding financial records, not carrying social security cards and not opening email attachments from strangers.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/