NLPD: Crime Prevention

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Identity Theft

Identify theft is the unauthorized use of another person’s personal identifying information to commit financial fraud. Upon obtaining such personal identifiers, identity thieves have the ability to commit financial crimes such as opening phony bank accounts, getting unauthorized credit cards, applying for car or house loans and leasing apartments with a false name. Identity thieves may even develop a criminal record or file bankruptcy in their victim’s name. Please find below identity theft prevention tips, as well as steps to take if you become an identity theft victim. For more information, please contact the Police Department at 815-462-6100.

Identity Theft Prevention Tips:

• Don’t give out your social security number unless necessary.
• Request your credit report at least once a year and check for any unauthorized activity.
• Shred personal documents before putting them in the refuse/recycling.
• Don’t have checks delivered to an unlocked mailbox.
• Don’t place mail that contains personal identifiers in an unlocked mailbox.
• Don’t carry unnecessary credit cards, your social security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse except when absolutely necessary.
• Never give out your credit card number or other personal information over the phone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the company and you initiated the call.
• Carefully review your credit card statements and phone bills for any unauthorized use.

If you become a victim of identity theft:

• Immediately contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting bureaus and ask for a credit report so you can identify fraudulent activity. Also ask each bureau to flag your account with a fraud alert to indicate you have been a victim of fraud:
  Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
  TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
  
• Make a report with law enforcement departments within your jurisdiction.
• Contact all creditors with whom your personal identifiers have been used fraudulently by telephone and letter. Enclose a copy of the police report.
• Stop payment on all outstanding checks and cancel your checking and savings accounts. To report fraudulent use of your checks:
  Check Rite: 1-800-766-2748
  Chexsystems: 1-800-428-9623
  Cross Check: 1-707-586-0551
  Equifax: 1-800-437-5120
  National Processing Co: 1-800-526-5380
  Scan: 1-800-262-7777
  Telecheck: 1-800-710-9898
  
• If your social security number has been obtained, call the Social Security Administration: (800) 269-0271. If someone obtains a driver’s license in your name or is using your driver’s license number, contact your local Secretary of State Office and ask to put a fraud alert on your license.
  Fraud Alert FAQ
• Federal Trade Commission: (887) 438-4338

How criminals get your personal information:

• Ordering your credit report, digging through your garbage, stealing mail from your mailbox, stealing your wallet, retrieving information from the Internet.

Information to guard from identity thieves:

• Social security number, birth date, driver’s license number, mother’s maiden name, current and past addresses, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers and access codes, passports, firearms identification cards, employee identification cards.

Tips for When on Vacation and Away from Home

Below is a list of security tips to consider when you and your family are away from home for an extended period of time. For additional questions or for more information, please contact the Village of New Lenox’s Police Department at 815-462-6100.

• Place a vacation hold on newspaper subscriptions, mail delivery and include the start and ending dates.
• Ask a neighbor to pick up newspapers and mail if the vacation hold is not followed. Ask them to remove throwaway papers and circulars from the doorway and mailbox.
• Place interior lights and a radio on timers to give the appearance that the home is occupied.
• Have front exterior lights on photocells that activate in the evening and shut off at daybreak.
• Notify neighbors of your absence and encourage them to contact the police regarding any suspicious activity at your home.
• Arrange to have the grass cut and watered, leaves raked, and the sidewalk and driveway shoveled as necessary.
• Remove all tools, lawn implements, garbage cans and yard furniture to the garage, basement or shed.
• Unplug all non-essential electrical appliances such as computers, fans, television, irons, washers and dryers to avoid damage from electrical storms.
• Be sure the sump pump is functioning properly and free from debris to avoid basement flooding.
• Set the home thermostat at a reasonable temperature – 85 degrees in the summer and 50 degrees in the winter.
• Make sure all entry points into the home are secure.
• Close the fireplace flue to prevent birds and animals from entering.
• If you have an alarm system, leave a current list of contacts with the alarm company in case of system activations.
• Disconnect the electric garage door opener and lock the garage door.
• Be sure all vehicles left home are locked and remove all valuables.