Identity Theft

Identity Theft and Frauds

The Boxborough Police Department would like to encourage residents to take the time to learn about the dangers and vulnerabilities regarding the crime of identity theft. Identity theft can happen to anyone. By making yourself and others aware of savvy thieves or things you can do for free, you’ll be better protected.

This page will provide victims with a list of resources and instructions when dealing with an identity theft situation. It also will answer some frequently asked questions and some current fraud trends.

What is identity theft and identity fraud?

The short answer is that identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.

What Are The Most Common Ways To Commit Identity Theft or Fraud?

Many people do not realize how easily criminals can obtain our personal data without having to break into our homes. In public places, criminals may engage in "shoulder surfing" watching you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number ­or listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card number over the telephone. Some criminals engage in "dumpster diving" ­ going through your garbage cans to obtain copies of your checks, credit card, bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address, and even your telephone number.

If you receive applications for "pre-approved" credit cards in the mail or credit card "Courtesy" checks, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards or use the checks for their use without your knowledge

In recent years, the Internet has become an appealing place for criminals to obtain identifying data, such as passwords or even banking information. In their haste to explore the exciting features of the Internet, many people respond to "spam" ­ unsolicited E-mail and provide personal information.

What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft?

-Be very cautious about giving out any personal information if you aren't certain who the person is.
-Shred any personal information that you discard in the trash, including bills, credit cards or personal documents.

-Never respond to emails that request personal information, contact the company by phone. Remember, banks and other institutions are not going to email you for your personal information or passwords that they already know! Also many scam emails will have links to direct you to a seemingly legitimate logon site. These sites record your logon and password data.

-Never respond to any email or phone call which claims that you are owed a large amount of money as soon as you wire a smaller amount to someone.

-Check your bank and credit card statements carefully every month and report any fraudulent charges.

-Get a yearly copy of your credit report from one of the listed credit agencies below. Look for any accounts or addresses that are not yours.

LATEST IDENTITY THEFT SCAM TRENDS:

Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud

Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance fee scheme in which a letter, mailed from Nigeria, offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author, a self-proclaimed government official, is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. Some of these letters have also been received via E-mail through the Internet.

Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria. In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but loss. Once the victim stops sending money, the perpetrators have been known to use the personal information and checks that they received to impersonate the victim, draining bank accounts and credit card balances until the victim's assets are taken in their entirety. The Nigerian government is not sympathetic to victims of these schemes, since the victim actually conspires to remove funds from Nigeria in a manner that is contrary to Nigerian law. The schemes themselves violate section 419 of the Nigerian criminal code, hence the label "419 fraud."

Advance Fee Scheme

An advance fee scheme occurs when the victim pays money to someone in anticipation of receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, contract, investment, or gift, and then receives little or nothing in return.

The variety of advance fee schemes is limited only by the imagination of the con artists who offer them. They may involve the sale of products or services, the offering of investments, lottery winnings, "found money," or many other "opportunities." Clever con artists will offer to find financing arrangements for their clients who pay a "finder's fee" in advance. They require their clients to sign contracts in which they agree to pay the fee when they are introduced to the financing source. Victims often learn that they are ineligible for financing only after they have paid the "finder" according to the contract. Such agreements may be legal unless it can be shown that the "finder" never had the intention or the ability to provide financing for the victims. In Boxborough, we sometimes see varitions of this scheme.

More current fraud schemes can be found at http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

Craigslist Scams

Craigslist is a scammers paradise. Although there are many legitimate transactions which occur on craigslist, there are also thousands of scams or frauds. In Boxborough, we sometimes see residents scammed on craigslist. Often times the scams involve the sales of vehicles or property. Victims are often sent a bogus but real looking check and only find out they have been scammed after the merchandise is gone. Another common scam is for the person to send a bogus check and request that you wire them part of the money back so that they can arrange shipping. Often times the money is wired before the victim realizes that the check they recieved is bogus, leaving them out all of the wired money.

More craigslist scams can be found at http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

The Boxborough Police Department will assist victims associated with this crime, but unfortunately, the victims themselves are burdened with resolving their own credit problems. Victims of identity theft must act quickly and assertively to minimize the damage to their good name and credit history. When dealing with the authorities and financial institutions, try to keep a log of all your conversations, including dates, times, names, and phone numbers.

A police report must be filed with your local police department.

1. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus and report the theft. Ask that a "fraud alert" be placed on your file and that no new credit be granted without your approval.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com

Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com

2. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the security department of the appropriate creditor or financial institution. Close these accounts and put passwords (not your mother's maiden name or Social Security number) on any new accounts you open.

3. To report fraudulent use of your personal checks, contact the following national checking agencies:

Equifax -- (800) 437-5120
National Processing Co. (NPC) -- (800) 526-5380
SCAN -- (800) 262-7771
TeleCheck -- (800) 710-9898
ChexSystems -- (800) 428-9623 (closed checking accounts)
CheckRite -- (800) 766-2748
CrossCheck -- (800) 552-1900
4. You must file a report with your local police department or the police department where the identity theft took place. Get the report number or a copy of the report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of the crime later.

5. Call the ID Theft Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) to report the theft. Counselors will take your complaint and advise you on how to deal with the credit-related problems that could result from ID theft. The Identity Theft Hotline gives you one place to report the theft to the federal government and receive helpful information. For more information, the following (non-profit) websites are great resources on identity theft:

Federal Trade Commission www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Identity Theft Resource Center www.idtheftcenter.org

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse www.privacyrights.org

Social Security Online www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm

U.S. Postal Inspection Service www.usps.com/postalinspectors

If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact the Boxborough Police Department and a detective will try to answer questions regarding your case.