colonial regional police department

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IDENTITY THEFT

Identity Theft is a major problem.  Be AWARE of where your purses and wallets are.  DO NOT put anything in your purse, wallet or vehicle which is not absolutely necessary.   Contact your local police department if you fear that your information has been compromised.  Act as quickly as possible...time is your enemy and their friend.

Colonial Regional Police Department    610.837.4557

Guard your information; it is not only valuable to you, it is valuable to bad guys as well.

Identity Theft is the use of the identifying information of another person without the consent of that person to further any unlawful purpose.

Some examples of identifying information are: 
  • Driver’s License
  • Credit Cards
  • Bank Cards
  • Social Security Card/Numbers
  • Date of Birth
  • Account Numbers
  • Employee/School IDs
  • Birth Certificates
  • Passports

Your information is obtained through:

  • Stolen wallets and purses.

  • Theft of mail from mailboxes and U.S. Post Office distribution centers

  • Change of address forms to divert mail

  • Dumpster diving

  • Personal information found in your home or on the Internet

  • Business record thefts

How your information is used:

  • Opening new credit card accounts

  • Establishing phone service

  • Opening bank accounts or writing bad checks

  • Filing for bankruptcy under your name

  • Counterfeit checks and bank cards that drain your account

  • Buying cars or getting auto loans using your credit history

  • Using your name when arrested or stopped by the police

What you can do:

  • Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three (3) major credit reporting bureaus (Click on the boxes below to access their websites)

 

 

  • Order a copy of this report at least once per year

  • Place DIFFICULT passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts

  • Secure your personal information in your home and at work

  • Don't give out personal information (KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO)

  • Remove your name from marketing lists

  • Guard your mail and trash (SHRED EVERYTHING)

  • DO NOT carry your social security card and give it out ONLY when necessary

  • Carry only the identification information and number of credit and bank cards you'll actually need

  • Keep duplicate records of IDs, credit cards and bank cards

  • Keep account numbers, addresses and phone numbers of your credit cards in case you need to contact them if Identity Theft has occurred.

  • Pay attention to billing cycles.  If you do not receive a bill that you expect, contact the company

  • Be wary of promotional scams

  • ALWAYS secure your purse or wallet in a secure place

If you become a victim:

  • Immediately close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently

  • Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your reports

  • File a report with your local police

  • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

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2008 Colonial Regional Police Department