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Homemakers Hear Program on Identity Theft

Stephen Svetz, III

Members of the Ashley County Extension Homemakers Club met Thursday, October 9, in the conference room of the courthouse annex for its fall council program. Guest speaker Stephen Svetz III, instructor/investigator with the Arkansas Attorney General's office, spoke to the group on identity theft and offered preventive tips.

According to the Arkansas Attorney General's website, identity theft occurs when key pieces of personal or credit information found on a credit card, driver's license, ATM card, or Social Security number are obtained and misused. Each year in the United States, an estimated nine million people fall victim to identity theft.

One way identity thieves obtain an individual's personal information, Svetz said, is through junk mail including pre-approved credit card applications. The risk with junk mail is that it contains information on the recipient that can be used to steal a person's identity, he explained.

When disposing of junk mail, Svetz said it is best to either burn or shred the items as opposed to throwing them out with the trash. "Get rid of old bills," he said. "When people break in your house they are not necessarily looking for TVs, items of value, etc... they may be looking for your personal information," he said.

While properly disposing of junk mail and outdated bills will prevent a thief from obtaining some information, Svetz said there are ways to stop unwanted mail. Pre-approved applications, he said, contain a phone number that the recipient may call to have their name removed from the mailing list. "Call the number and tell them to stop sending them," he said. The less junk mail, according to Svetz, the less chance a person has of becoming a victim.

In addition, he warned, while it is convenient to mail payments from home, it is also convenient for a thief to remove outgoing mail from a residential mailbox. "Never mail money from your mailbox," he warned.

While mailing payments from the post office is preferred, Svetz said when possible make payments online. The idea, he said, is the secured connection that is not handled by a human being. In short, Svetz said, paying bills online is the "safest" bet.

According to Svetz, bank statements and a box of new checks are the most dangerous items a person can have in their mailbox. Svetz said instead of having checks delivered to a residence have them redirected to the bank.

"Don't talk to a telemarketer, if you want something go out and buy it," he said. According to Svetz, the telemarketer provides information that contributes to the amount of junk mail a person receives. Anyone with Internet assess, he said, may log on to http://www.boviously.com/junkmail// and select to opt out. "This will reduce 25 to 30 percent of junk mail," he said. He also provided the National Do Not Call phone number and web address to stop the telemarketer phone calls. To sign up on the list either visit www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.

Once added to the list, Svetz said, politicians and charities are the two organizations exempt from the list. However, according to Svetz, while the Arkansas State Police Association is a legitimate organization, there are five known individuals who have scammed citizens out of money while pretending to be affiliated with the organization. "If you want to donate money to a charity, but don't know where to give, call the General Attorney's office and someone with our charity division will direct you," Svetz said.

The final way to reduce threats, Svetz said, is to send a short message containing a person's name and address along with a brief message requesting removal to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference List, P. O. Box 9008, Carmel, New York 10512. However, according to Svetz, the organization changes its mailing address every six months.

Other ways a person can reduce their risk is by removing and hiding all items containing their personal information from their wallet or purse, he said. This includes credit cards, insurance cards, social security cards, and ID cards, he said. "Take these items only when needed," he said. For additional information visit www.ag.arkansas.gov