Safety & Security

Please note that the county-wide disaster drill planned for PNC Park on October 11 has been postponed to May 2005.

Identity Theft
(Article courtesy of Allied Security)

According to authorities, identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the country. The Federal Trade Commission received 380,000 complaints last year from identity theft victims. Yet it's estimated that even more ? 500,000 to 700,000 ? fall victim annually, with some not knowing their identity has been stolen.

Following are some important updates on identity theft and how you can help prevent becoming a victim.

Identity Theft Fast Facts

• In 2003, identity theft resulted in $343 million in consumer losses, up from $160 million in 2001.
• Identity theft is a relatively low-risk endeavor, yet pays in high rewards.
• Clearing up your credit rating and reputation can take months ? even years ? to correct.

How Thieves Can Steal Your Identity

• Sending false e-mail messages to obtain credit card or bank information
• Intercepting financial data, passwords and more via viruses and software programs
• Creating bogus web sites
• Hacking into computer systems and accessing personal data
• 'Skimming' ? Thieves use a small electronic machine to record information on your credit card's magnetic stripe. This often happens at retail establishments by employees who work there.
• Telemarketing schemes to obtain account numbers
• Posing as a loan officer and ordering a credit report
• 'Shoulder surfing' at ATMs
• 'Dumpster diving' for credit card or loan applications, bank statements, insurance forms and more
• Redirecting mail to another address
• Through employment records
• The 'Nigerian' Scam ? Supposed Nigerian officials promise big profits in exchange for moving large sums of money out of their country. The perpetrators ask you to provide blank company letterhead, bank account numbers to deposit your 'profits' and money to cover the transaction costs and attorney fees.
• 'Phishing' Scams ? Scammers pretend to be people from businesses you deal with, such as an Internet service provider, a bank or an online payment service, asking you to update your billing information to keep your account active. These scammers direct you to a look-alike web site that collects your financial information for fraudulent use.

Preventing Identity Theft ? The Internet

• Do not download files or click on hyperlinks sent by strangers, as opening them could expose your system to a virus that hijacks your modem ? allowing access to stored information.
• Update your virus protection software regularly.
• Use a firewall program to prohibit uninvited guests from accessing your computer.
• Use a secure browser-software that encrypts or scrambles information you send over the Internet during online transactions.
• Look for the 'lock' icon on the browser's status bar to indicate that your information is secure during transmission.
• Do not use automatic log-in features that save your user name and password.
• Always log off when you're finished with an online transaction.
• Exclude personal information from family web sites.
• If you are throwing away an old computer, use a 'wipe' utility program that overwrites the hard drive ? making any personal files unrecoverable.
• If you receive an e-mail with little or no notice that your account will be shut down unless you confirm your billing information, do not reply or click on the e-mail. Instead, contact the company cited using a phone number you know to be legitimate.

Preventing Identity Theft ? The Mail and More

• Protect your personal information. Don't give it out over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you're certain you know whom you're dealing with.
• Resist providing your Social Security Number, and don't carry your Social Security card.
• If your state uses your Social Security Number as your driver's license number, or your health insurance company uses it as your account number, ask to substitute another number.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you are having work done in your house.
• Shred documents with personal information before throwing them away.
• Deposit outgoing mail with personal information in post office collection boxes, rather than an unsecured mailbox.
• Avoid using common identifiers as passwords.
• Monitor billing statements and your credit reports.
• Cancel all unused credit accounts.
• Be wary of promotional scams asking for personal information for 'billing purposes.'

If you suspect you're the victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 or www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Contact any of the three major credit bureaus to monitor your credit report:
Equifax: www.equifax.com
Experian: www.experian.com
Trans Union: www.transunion.com

For more information on other timely security topics, please visit www.alliedsecurity.com/SecurityResources.html

Good Website:
http://www.twotigersonline.com/resources.html
An excellent site with links to many security agencies and reports

ATF/BOMA Bomb Threat Checklist:
Exact Time and Date of Call
Exact Words of Caller

Questions to Ask:
When is the bomb going to explode?
Where is the bomb?
What does it look like?
What kind of bomb is it?
What will cause it to explode?
Did you place the bomb?
Why?
Where are you calling from?
What is your address?
What is your name?

Callers Voice:
Calm, Slow, Crying, Slurred
Stutter, Deep, Loud, Broken
Rapid, Excited, Giggling, Stressed
Squeaky, Educated, Lisp, Angry
Nasal, Sincere, Accent

Background Noise:
Street, Music, Machinery, Voices
Clear, Static, Local, Long Distance

If voice is familiar, whom did it sound like:
Person Receiving Call:
Number received at:
Call reported to