Law enforcement speaks of how to avert identity theft
Mail fraud also a topic during National Consumer Protection Week
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - To combat identity theft and mail fraud, the senior center hosted a National Consumer Protection Week seminar on Friday.

Phil Forti, of the United States Postal Service, said that "seniors are the largest target of identity theft because you people are so trusting."

Postal inspectors fight against that fraud. United States Postal Inspector Ed Steed said the inspectors have been in operation for more than 200 years and investigate drugs in the mail, credit card fraud and other thefts. He said they will sometimes reply to advertisements in the back of magazines to see if they are bogus, which they usually are.

Another instance is sweepstakes fraud, where a person "wins" $500,000 but has to send $1,000 first. Or, you are sent a check for $5,000 and are asked to deposit that amount and wire even more money to a different location. Steed cited one woman who lost $250,000 and then killed herself, and another woman who was found by postal inspectors to have sent $80,000 in cash to Jamaica.

"Whenever you hear that word, 'wire,' when you transact or sell, be very, very aware," he said. "If you think there is a possibility this may be legitimate … then call me. … I encourage you, don't send cash, don't send a check."

In addition, Steed said that foreign lotteries are illegal in the United States, so if a letter is received, the documents should be shredded or reported to a local enforcement agency.

Also, Forti said people placing fliers in mailboxes could be stealing personal mail directly from the mailbox.

However, Steed said that only 2-percent of identity theft cases are generated through the mail. Instead, fraud is a re- sult of credit card use or even hospital workers stealing patient information.

"Keep your eyes on your credit card when you use it at a restaurant, or anywhere else, because there are dirty employees everywhere," he said, stating that a customer should take their card personally to the cashier.

Forti said other scams include phone solicitations for jury duty in which the person will threaten jail time if the matter is not addressed, and will therefore ask for personal information that the victim will provide. Or, the caller will play on the person's sympathy, asking for support for a fatal disease or for a military person who has passed away.

North Brunswick police Detective David Varga also noted PBA scams, since phone solicitations are illegal. He said the police department's fund drives are done through the mail, and that no information should be given out over the phone.

Identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the country, occurring in person, at home, through the mail, over the phone or using the Internet. The No. 1 protection against having personal information stolen is having a credit report completed each year. The law entitles everyone to one free credit report per year using AnnualCreditReport. com. The three major reporting companies are Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

Steed said that any case of potential theft or fraud should be reported to the postal inspectors or the local police, even if the incident is merely questionable.

"We don't want to see any more victims around here. They are slick, they are cunning," he said.

In the event of a fraudulent situation, contact the police department. Complaints should be filed with the National Fraud Information Center at (800) 876- 7060, the National Insurance Consumer Hot Line at (800) 942-4242, or the Federal Trade Commission at (877) 438-4338.

For more information, contact Varga at (732) 247-0922, ext. 333, or Steed at (732) 819-3237.