I had the opportunity this week to attend an excellent seminar dealing with the subject of identity theft. Just in case you’ve been living in a cave for the past few years, and haven’t heard of identity theft, you might want to read a previous article that I wrote on the subject, titled “Internet scams abound.”
Hosted by Republic Bank, “You’ve just been robbed (and you didn’t even know it)!” featured Elaine Dodd, who is the Vice President of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Fraud Division. Her informative and entertaining presentation covered the many ways that crooks could steal your identity and then proceed to drain your bank account and max out your credit card. Also covered were numerous ways that you can protect yourself identity scammers, who are becoming more and more crafty with their crooked schemes.
I’ve been studying the subjects of Internet scams and identity theft for years, which prompted one lady to ask me, “Did you learn anything new? Surely you know all about the subject.” “No way do I know it all,” I replied, “the field changes every day. I have to keep learning.” One interesting thing that I learned was about mail theft, particularly the theft of bank checks. Apparently, mail theft is rampant. Once a thief has one of your checks, he washes it with acetone (nail polish remover) to remove the ballpoint pen ink that you used to write the check, and goes on a shopping spree. The way to thwart such schemes is to use a pen with gel-based ink, which can’t be dissolved with acetone. Some say that the Uniball 207, developed by Frank Abagnale, is the best. In case you’re wondering, the thief traces over your signature with a gel pen before washing everything else off. Since stores like Wal-Mart rarely check IDs anymore, the thief can use your check to buy anything he likes.
Ms. Dodd also had everyone take a short quiz to see how he or she ranks in the fight against identity theft. The quiz was taken from Frank Abagnale’s book, The Art of the Steal, published by Broadway/Random House. You should also visit Frank’s excellent website at www.abagnale.com. Take the following quiz for yourself, add up your points and see how you do.
(1) You receive several offers of pre-approved credit every week: 5 points. Add five more points if you don’t shred them before putting them in the trash. (2) You carry your Social Security card in your wallet: 10 points. (3) You don’t have a post office box or a locked, secured mailbox: 5 points. (4) You drop off your outgoing mail at an open, unlocked box or basket: 10 points. (5) You carry your military ID in your wallet at all times: 10 points. (6) You don’t shred or tear up banking and credit information when you throw it in the trash: 10 points. (7) You provide your Social Security number whenever asked: 10 points. Add five points if you provide it orally without checking to see who might be listening. (8) You’re required to use your SSN as an employee or student ID number: 5 points. (9) Your SSN is printed on an employee badge that you wear: 10 points. (10) Your SSN or drivers license number is printed on your personal checks: 20 points. (11) You are listed in a “Who’s Who” guide: 5 points. (12) You carry your insurance card in your wallet and it contains your SSN or your spouse’s SSN: 20 points. (13) You haven’t ordered a copy of your credit report for at least two years: 10 points. (14) You don’t believe that people root around in your trash looking for credit or financial information: 10 points.
Well, how did you score? I don’t mean to be bragging, but I scored a big, fat zero, for which I was awarded a giant chocolate bar; and yes, I ate the whole thing. Bear in mind, though, it took a long time for me to get to the point in my life that I could score a zero on the quiz, and my security profile is by no means perfect. Visit Mr. Abagnale’s website, as well as the Oklahoma Bankers Association website at www.oba.com to learn more about protecting your identity; it’s never too late to start.