Identity thieves thrive in Texas
By David Burge / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/12/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


Illustration by Nacho L. Garcia Jr. / El Paso Times Millions of Americans are worried about identity theft but aren't doing the right things to combat it, according to a recent survey by a leading consumer-finance Web site.
According to a recent poll conducted for Bankrate.com, 80 percent of U.S. consumers are concerned about identity theft, but only 24 percent are concerned about identity theft coming through the mail, the trash or someone they know.

"Those are the most common methods of identity theft, and only 24 percent are concerned about it," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com.

Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center in California, said consumers worry about identity theft the same way they worry about their health.

"Everyone wants to be healthy, but we don't take the time to exercise and eat properly," Foley said.

According to data supplied by Identity Theft 911, a leading identity-theft education and resolution company in Arizona, 908 identity theft complaints were filed in the El Paso metropolitan area in 2007, placing the Sun City 74th out of nearly 400 cities for identity theft complaints per capita.

Texas had the second-highest rate of identity-theft complaints in the nation in 2007 -- nearly 881,000 -- and was ranked fourth on a per-capita basis, according to the company.

El Pasoan Jose Nakid, sales director of ARSA Distributing, said the company routinely shreds any documents that contain sensitive information about itself or its clients.

"We pretty
much do it to make sure absolutely no one has the advantage of getting this information and to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands," he said. "We want to protect ourselves and our customers."
In his personal life, Nakid uses the Internet to do his banking and he never gives out information when contacted through an unsolicited e-mail or phone call.

Experts say a few simple steps can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Check your free credit reports, monitor your bank accounts and credit cards online, and shred sensitive documents, they say.

In the Bankrate.com survey, 44 percent were concerned about their information being obtained over the Internet, and 54 percent avoid online banking. Yet using online banking to monitor your accounts is a great "real-time" defense against identity theft, McBride said.

"The overwhelming majority are concerned about identity theft but to adequately protect yourself, you have to grab the low-hanging fruit," McBride said.

El Paso certified public account Craig Gibson said it's crucial to "use common sense," shred documents, use secure mailboxes when mailing important items and lock up your laptop computer when staying in a hotel.

Identity theft is a problem "that's not going away," said Adam Levin, chairman of Identity Theft 911 and former New Jersey director of Consumer Affairs.

"The bad guys are getting more sophisticated, and it may take longer for you to realize you've become a victim," he said.

Foley said identity theft is an all-encompassing term that actually includes a variety of crimes. Identity thieves can use your information to open unauthorized credit-card accounts or get a job or access to medical services under your name, she said. Criminals can also give out your identity when they get arrested or get a ticket, she said.

Stephanie Abelleyra, communications director for the El Paso Better Business Bureau, said identity theft "can happen to anyone."

If you think you've become a victim, Abelleyra said, file a report with your police department and the Federal Trade Commission, contact all the banks and credit-card companies you do business with, and place a fraud alert with the three main credit bureaus.

"The key thing is you are the ultimate guardian of your identity," Levin said.

Some simple steps you can take:


Shred any document that contains sensitive or financial information.
"We've been harping on this for years," Gibson said.


Get your free copies of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228.
"This is your first line of defense against identity theft," McBride said. "This helps you spot any new accounts or recent credit inquiries that you didn't initiate."

Each U.S. consumer is entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Levin said it's a good idea to stagger your requests and get a different one every four months.


Protect your Social Security number. Don't give it out unless it's absolutely necessary and don't carry your card with you.
If you lose it, it gives would-be identity thieves a "clear path into your life," Levin said.


If someone calls you requesting personal or financial information, don't give it out. If you call your bank or initiate any other call, it's generally OK to give out this information.

Place your birth certificate, Social Security card, banking information and credit cards in a secure place, Abelleyra said.
About 50 percent of all identity-theft cases involve friends, relatives or neighbors who steal your identity, she said.

David Burge may be reached at dburge@elpasotimes.com; 546-6126.






Identity-theft impact

908 identity-theft complaints from the El"Paso metropolitan area were filed in 2007, making the city No. 47 out of nearly 400 metropolitan areas for identity-theft complaints per capita.

Nearly 881,000 complaints were filed in Texas in 2007, giving the state the second-most complaints in the nation and fourth-most per capita.

Identity theft cost Texas victims an estimated $435.7 million in 2007.
Source: Identity Theft 911.



Where to get help

www.bankrate.com. The Web site's latest installment of its continuing Financial Literacy Series deals with identity theft and contains more than a dozen free articles and tools.

www.valueyourmoney.org. The site, run by the Texas Society of CPAs, has free information on a variety of financial topics, including identity theft.

The El"Paso Better Business Bureau has free pamphlets on identity theft in both English and Spanish and provides free help if you become a victim. Call 577-0191 or visit www.bbb.org.

www.identity theft911.org. The site has tips on avoiding identity theft, what to do if you become a victim, and articles and interviews.

www.idtheftcenter. org. The site has free articles and an 11-minute video. The center also provides free help to identity-theft victims. Call 858-693-7935.



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