Operation I.D.
IDENTITY THEFT ON THE RISE
Operation I.D. is a nationwide
effort of law enforcement agencies and the citizens and businesses they serve.
The goal is to reduce property theft through an identifications system.
Marking your possessions
with an identifying number is an effective method of deterring theft. You
can participate by engraving or marking your valuables with your driver's
license number.
- Be sure to mark all
items of value and be complete in your inventory.
- Electric engravers are
available for checkout at the Spokane Police Department, Spokane C.O.P.S. or
you can purchase one.
- You will need to record
the make and model numbers of all property that you engrave.
- Practice using the
engraver before you make your property.
- Keep a record in a safe
location
To check out an engraver,
contact your local Spokane C.O.P.S. Substation.
IDENTITY THEFT ON THE RISE
Armed with a computer, a name, a
social security number, and a person’s credit
history, today’s criminals can steal without ever
leaving the comfort of their homes. Identity theft
is taking a victim’s identity to obtain credit,
apply for loans, rent an apartment, or obtain a
job using the victim’s name. Enterprising
criminals can gather remarkable amounts of information
about a victim through the debris of everyday
transactions. They use their information to gain access
to all of the victim’s financial information. Thieves get
information by stealing a victim’s wallet, looking over
a victim’s shoulder at an ATM or phone booth to capture
a PIN, stealing from a victim’s mailbox, digging
through discarded trash, or fraudulently ordering a
copy of the victim’s credit record.
To Prevent
Becoming An Identity Theft Victim
-
keep personal information
private
-
check financial information
regularly
-
obtain a copy of your credit
report annually
-
maintain careful records of
banking and
-
financial accounts
-
shred all mail containing
credit card offers or
-
other personal information.
