Identity Theft Information and Prevention

Identity theft is one of the most common crimes law enforcement investigates in today's "wired" world. With the advancements in computer technology and ease of access many people have to electronic resources such as computers, wireless devices, online accounts (bank, credit, and debit), and other technology, the risk for theft of ones identity and personal information has increased greatly.

Where criminals had to search for physical documents like bills, credit cards, and other personal documents to obtain personal information in the years prior to the internet, with a varying ranges of computer skills, they can simply use the vast internet to commit their crimes. This presents a unique set of problems for law enforcement due to the lack of physical evidence. Where the crime scene is essentially on the world wide web, this requires complex tracking of such things as emails, messages, and related transactions. This is a time consuming and often tedeaous process for investigators, often times leading to offenders in other parts of the world, far away from the arm and responsibilty of the United States legal system.

The methods, ruses, and schemes criminals use to steal someones identity, information, or money range from the basic to the very complex. The crimes may range from a store clerk stealing private information while at work to someone seeking ATM/Debit passwords at an ATM machine to large scale online security breaches where the credit card/personal information of customers is accessed by hackers and many more crimes similar in nature. In either case, to find out your the victim of identity theft is unnerving.

To assist you in helping to prevent identity theft, please note some of the tips below. Also, click on the links to other helpful websites concerning this topic.

Identity Theft Tips:

**Coming Soon***

Identity Theft Links

Last Updated: 6/6/08

Chief of Police Richard L. Handfield

Webmaster: Officer Frank J. Piscitelli III