Crime Prevention Tip off the Month for April 2008
With warmer weather approaching, more people will be outside walking, working in the yard, or just enjoying the warmer weather. This month, the Wichita Police Department Crime Prevention Section would like to offer these personal safety tips in an effort to make you and the community safer.
WALKING/JOGGING: Avoid jogging or walking alone. Remember there is safety in numbers. Avoid unlit streets, vacant lots, and unpopulated areas. Stick to well-traveled areas like malls and businesses in your area. Refrain from wearing headphones, which prevent you from hearing what is happening around you. If you think someone is following you, change directions and get to a safe place. Always have your keys ready when returning home.
ASSERTIVENESS: Assertive behavior will help reduce your vulnerability to an assault. Make eye contact with people you meet. Eye contact is a powerful way to say "I am in control myself and my environment. Do not violate my space." Speak clearly and with authority. Strong body language also sends the same assertive message as eye contact. Walk with a sense of purpose like you know exactly where you are going and what you are doing. Pay attention to your instincts. Do not discredit them by thinking that you are just paranoid. If you feel someone can’t be trusted or you are in danger, you probably have a good reason. Listen to your instincts and trust them.
IN CONCLUSION: Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid dangerous situations. Think about your options in advance should you encounter an attacker. Value yourself and your feelings as much as you value others. The most important step you can take in protecting yourself is to acknowledge that it can happen to you. The following principles should be useful in helping you reduce your degree of vulnerability.
1. Be alert.
2. Be aware of the people around you, your surroundings, and the total environment.
3. Be assertive, do not allow yourself to be intimidated.
4. Stay calm.
5. Think clearly.
Crime Prevention Tip off the Month Brought to you by the Wichita Police Department Crime Prevention Unit
IDENTITY THEFT
What are the steps I should take if I'm a victim of identity theft?
If you are a victim of identity theft, take the following four steps as soon as possible, and keep a record with the details of your conversations and copies of all correspondence.
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. When you correct your credit report, use an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter explaining your request, to get the fastest and most complete results.
Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions.
Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.
3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.
4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
Call your local police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft. Ask them if you can file the report in person. If you cannot, ask if you can file a report over the Internet or telephone. See below for information about Automated Reports.
If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incident" report.