Preventing Identity Theft

Statement

Identity theft is a growing problem affecting millions of Americans each year. This crime occurs when individuals use your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other financial crimes. While using false credentials is nothing new, advances in technology have provided criminals with new avenues to gain access to your personal identifying information and use it for their own purposes.

Identity thieves also have proven adept in using current events to trick individuals into sharing personal information. For example, I recently heard from several Nebraskans who have received phone calls from scam artists claiming the need to send new Medicare cards, but first must confirm personal information such as their full name, address, Social Security number, or banking information. Others have tried to get Nebraskans to turn over this information by claiming to be Navigators for the Obamacare exchanges which are set to launch on October 1st.

Confusion surrounding the launch of the health care exchanges, as well as the upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment period, will likely lead more criminals to seek access to personal identification. The Obamacare data exchange system will dramatically increase the volume and speed of personal information moving between hundreds of government and private entities through a complex and potentially vulnerable network. However, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft.

First, never respond to e-mails, phone calls, or anyone at your door requesting to "verify" your personal information and identifiers. Your bank, credit card company, online payment system, and government agencies will not call or e-mail for your confidential information -- they already have it.

You should never share personal information like your Medicare number or Social Security number with a third party online or over the phone. This information may be needed if you are signing-up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan by calling 1-800-Medicare or by visiting: http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan. You should not provide this information if you did not initiate the call, even if the caller claims to be signing you up for Medicare or Obamacare.

According to the Department of Justice, 8.6 million households were victimized by identity theft in 2010. Of these households, many were headed by a senior citizen. Please be sure to share this information with elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors who are most likely to be targeted by these scams.

Finally, it pays to be cautious and vigilant for fraud. If you are unsure, do not give out your information. It is better to hang up the phone and verify the legitimacy of the person you are speaking with before it is too late. If someone calls you claiming to be from a government agency, feel free to call my office to help confirm the request is real before giving away your personal information.

While not identity theft, you should also be careful about sending money to groups seeking to raise funds on issues of concern to seniors. There are many legitimate advocacy organizations addressing senior issues, but there are many more who use scare tactics to raise funds from seniors largely for their own personal enrichment.

Scam artists and criminals will always attempt to take advantage of innocent people for their own benefit. However, by staying alert, carefully guarding our information, and looking out for each other we can prevent much of the identity theft and fraud hurting millions of American families every year.

Source