Chief’s Column: Protect yourself from identity theft

Police departments around the country receive numerous complaints of identity theft every day and Grafton is no exception.

Identity theft is the taking of a person’s identity to obtain credit and credit cards, steal money from existing bank accounts, get medical treatment on your health insurance, obtain loans and open accounts with utility companies. An identity thief can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund. In some extreme cases, a thief might even give your name to the police during an arrest. The imposter obtains identifying information such as social security numbers, date of birth, address and phone numbers and establishes a new identity posing as the victim.

Many people fall victim to identity theft but don’t realize it until the damage is done. To help you recognize the warning signs of identity theft, the Grafton Police Department would like to offer the following information from Identitytheft.gov.

CLUES THAT SOMEONE HAS STOLEN YOUR INFORMATION:

• You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
• You don’t get your bills or other mail.
• Merchants refuse your checks.
• Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
• You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
• Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
• Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
• A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
• The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
• You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.

If your wallet, Social Security number or other personal information is lost or stolen, there are steps you can take, including notifying the police, to help protect yourself from identity theft. IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.

Anyone with questions for the Chief’s Column may submit them by mail to the Grafton Police Department, 28 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. You may also email your questions or comments to chief@graftonpolice.com. Please include an appropriate subject line as I do not open suspicious email for obvious reasons.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr., Chief of Police