These cases of identity theft were recently reported to Darien police:
On Thursday, Feb. 23, a woman in her 70s told police that someone had applied for and received a Citicard Mastercard credit card in her name. Citicard had told the woman that the card had been given out. The woman’s address and Social Security number were used in the application.
The card was used to make a purchase, but the police report didn’t say where or how much was spent.
On Saturday, Feb. 26, a husband and wife, both in their 30s, reported that the family’s Yahoo email account had been hacked and their mortgage application was accessed through it. They believed that their credit cards and bank accounts had been compromised.
When an incident is reported, Darien police will take down the information and file a report on it, but there is little else a local police agency can do. Credit card companies and banks sometimes want police reports filed promptly before removing any charges from an account.
About Identity Theft
Some websites and Web pages:
- FBI Web page on Identity Theft
- FTC Identity Theft website
- Department of Justice Identity Theft website
- Center for Identity Management & Information Protection
See also these articles about reducing the chances your identity could be stolen:
- Connecticut BBB: How College Students Can Protect Themselves from Fraud (Aug. 20, 2016)
- How to Lower Your Chance of Getting Scammed by an ATM Skimming Device (Feb. 22)
- Darien Police Offer Businesses Tips on Avoiding Wire Fraud (Dec. 8, 2015)
- Prevent this Crime: Distraction Burglary (June 15, 2015)
Identity Theft in Darien in 2017: