The News Room [News Archive]

Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Sheriff Evans cautions Holiday shoppers to watch out for identity theft --- Be wary of giving personal info out over Internet or the phone

This time of year, there are a lot of things that Christmas shoppers need to remember to make sure they are not the victims of thieves. But according to Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans, people are at risk of losing more than their wallet or purse this holiday season.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 380,000 Americans were victims of identity theft or consumer fraud in 2002. As a result, consumers and corporations were cheated out of $343 million. In Michigan, 4,640 identities were stolen, giving it a higher on a per capita rate than in 33 other states.

Evans said that according to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of identity theft nationwide have shot up 500% since 2000 and are likely to continue to increase. The vast majority of victims are between the ages of 18 and 49.

“This holiday season, thousands more people are likely to have their identity stolen, and we don’t want any of them to be in Wayne County,” Evans said. “Following some simple rules can protect most people.”

While law enforcement agencies do their best to arrest the people who commit these crimes, Evans says the best protection comes from an informed public. As part of its campaign to have a safe Holiday season, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office wants to make sure people can shop without the fear of having their identity stolen.

To help them, we want to point out some important things they can do protect themselves.

Online safety
The Internet is a great tool, and usually very safe for shopping. But it’s also a great place for thieves to hang out.

• Make sure your web browser is the most recent version, which should have the best security features.
• Never give out your social security number to make a purchase.
• If you are uncertain about purchasing online, stick with companies you are familiar with.
• Pay with a credit card. That way you can dispute any erroneous charges to your account
• Know the return policy of any company you purchase from online
• Print and keep a copy of your online receipt and compare it to your credit card statement when it arrives.

Home Safety
Shred any documents that contain sensitive information BEFORE you throw them out. Many identities are stolen by people looking through trashcans.

• Bank Statements
• Credit card Statements
• Charge Card Receipts

If your identity or personal information is stolen:
Contact any one of the following credit reporting agencies:

• Equifax: 888-766-0008
• Experian: 888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 800-680-7289

To report possible ID theft scams, call Wayne County’s Internet Crime Unit at 313-857-9676

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