Fraud or Identity Theft

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States.  Approximately fifteen million U.S. residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion.

There are several types of Identity Fraud/Theft which occurs when ones identifying information has been compromised.  Identiying information includes:  Current or former names, social security numbers, driver's license numbers, birth date, checking or savings account numbers, credit or other financial transaction card numbers, debit card numbers, personal identification numbers, electronic identification numbers, digital or electronic signatures, medical identification numbers, tax identification numbers, state identification numbers issued by state departments or any other numbers or information which can be used to access a person's or entity's resources.

One of the most common Identity Thefts in Fayette County is Identity Fraud.  This involves using the victim's banking information to write fraudulent checks.  Identity Fraud involving checks is most common when people are utilizing their mailboxes to mail checks to pay their bills and someone steals their mail.  Once a suspect gets a copy of a persons check they use the checking account and routing numbers to create their own checks to utilize them at various businesses around the Metro Atlanta area.  Oftentimes suspects write checks to other individuals to have them cash the checks for them.

Another common type of Identify Theft in Fayette County is Credit Card Fraud.  This is when someone obtains your credit card information and uses it to make purchases over the internet.  Many suspects use cloned cards, that are basically duplicates of your credit card and can be used anywhere a card is accepted.

Individuals committing Identity Fraud frequently target the elderly through phone calls and emails.  For example, a suspect will contact the elderly acting as a grandchild who is in trouble or in jail requesting them to send money to them in order to get out of jail.  To prevent this type of fraud, verify this information with the grandchilds parents before sending any money.  Another example which has happened in Fayette County, is an elderly person receives a phone call and are told that there is a problem with their Social Security check and they need to be provided with personal information to correct the problem.  This is a hoax, and can be thwarted by asking the caller for a call back number so you can call and verify that something is wrong.  Another example of Identify Fraud is suspects sending emails claiming to do so on behalf of a friend of yours who are out of the country and they have been robbed or victimized in some manner.  The email will explain that your friend needs money to pay a hotel bill or something similar and asks you to send them money overseas.  You should verify this information by contacted your friend directly before sending any funds overseas.

Here is another common scam that has been encountered in Fayette County.  Person(s) are notified that they have won the Canadian Lottery and that they need to pay the taxes on the money and they will send you the winnings.  If you didn't play the Canadian Lottery you didn't win!  Do not send them any money.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has also come across this scam on more than one occasion.  A person places something for sale on Craigslist or E-bay and the seller is contacted by someone who sends them too much money for the item.  You are then told to take out what you need for the item that you are selling and then send the remaining money back to the purchaser.  If you do this, you have just deposited a check in your bank that is fake and you now have to deal with the overdraft issue with your bank.

If you are a victim of Identify Fraud in Fayette County, you need to notify the Sheriff's Office by calling (770) 461-6353 or call the non-emergency number at Fayette County E911 which is (770) 461-4357.

Tips to avoid being a victim of Identity Theft:

     Do not place checks in your mailbox, deliver them to the Post Office to mail

     Check your bank accounts frequently (daily if possible)

     Place Fraud Alerts on your accounts

     Do not give out any personal information to anyone over the phone or internet

     If someone calls requesting personal information over the phone get a call back number and verify.

Tips on what to do if you are the victim of Identity Theft:

     Report the indicident to your local law enforcement agency

     Place Fraud Alerts or Credit Freezes on accounts including credit cards through the Credit Bureaus (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union)

     If your account is the source of the fraud, close the account immediately

     Contact your Bank or Credit Card Company and order a new card

Another resource for information on protecting yourself from Identiy Fraud is http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/