Your Franklin Police Department (FPD) has some tips for you on identity theft prevention. Recently the Franklin Police Department was notified of a phone scam where the perpetrator pretended to be someone from the Department of Health and Human Services. During the phone conversation, the caller informs the victim that they have been selected to receive a grant. The victim is then asked to travel to the nearest Western Union store and upon arrival call the perpetrator who gives them an account in which they are to deposit money. The victim never receives the grant money.
Scammers will also attempt to fraud someone through the use of spam email that appears to be from a legitimate business. Police urge you to not open, respond, or click on any links in an unsolicited (spam) email. Also, keep a list of phone numbers for any credit cards or bank accounts separate from your wallet in the event it is lost or stolen, so that you can report them immediately and have them closed/deactivated. Do not give out your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits the information over the phone, unless you initiated the call. Selecting passwords that do not include your name, account numbers and that have multiple characters, including non-alphabetic characters and using a different password for each account, make it more difficult for would-be thieves to guess them.
If you believe you are a victim, or have been contacted by someone trying to victimize you, report it to police. You can also report it to the FBI by visiting their website at www.ic3.gov. The Franklin Police Department’s Identity Theft Victim Guide provides useful information on what you should do if you suspect you have been the victim of identity theft. Click Here to download the guide, which includes a list of important numbers and things you should do if your identity has been compromised.
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