How Do I Avoid Identity Theft

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (STMW) — In light of a recent uptick in identity thefts, police are warning residents to take added care in disposing of waste that may contain personal information.

St. Charles Police Department spokesman Paul McCurtain said several cases of identity theft have been reported over the last two weeks.

Throughout the area and across the country, such crimes have been on the rise as personal information such as bank statements and credit card applications have been seized, while Social Security numbers have been sold to falsify resident and work status. The FBI reports that it is the fastest-growing crime in the United States.

“There is just so much information that you can get on someone without leaving your house,” Kane County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Pat Gengler said. “You can sit on a computer and there is just all kinds of stuff out there where you might get somebody’s Social Security number or an address.”

Despite the prevalence of Internet-related identity thefts, police still suggest that residents not hesitate to report stolen wallets or purses, and notify credit card companies, banks and the Social Security office sooner rather than later to avoid the chance of vital information being used by thieves.

Also, authorities said, don’t respond to e-mails made to look like legitimate requests from financial institutions to verify user names, passwords and other information.

“No legitimate company would conduct business that way,” McCurtain warned.

Another common source for potentially valuable personal information can often be found right outside the doors of most residents, as improper disposal of old mail can have disastrous financial consequences.

Old receipts, billing statements, credit card applications, as well as any medical or financial information sent through the mail, should be shredded to avoid the possibility of vital information getting into the wrong hands, police said.

So far this year, 24 incidents of identity theft have been reported in St. Charles, compared with 25 for the same period in 2009.

In Elgin, city police said they have received 81 reports of identity theft so far in 2010.

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