Identity Theft Scams Permeate Holiday News Stories

Posted by: Desiree B. | Dec 26,2007

Along with heartfelt wishes for Christmas cheer, the news is filled with identity theft scams this week:

 

In an attempted identity theft scam in Maryland, some people pretending to be police officers have been calling local businesses to attempt to get customers’ financial information. Local Pizza Hut restaurants report that some men, claiming that they work for the local sheriff’s office, called and asked for customer credit card numbers, which employees refused to give out over the phone. The identity theft scam has been attempted at a number of restaurants in the Baltimore, Maryland metro area this year.

 

It’s never a good idea to give out you or your customers’ information over the phone to anyone who calls, regardless of the story they give you. And I think it’s safe to say that the police won’t call you to discuss sensitive information, anyway- they’ll show up in person if they need to talk to you. If someone calls you and requests personal or financial information over the phone, don’t give it to them. If they claim to be from the police department, ask which police department they are calling from and tell them you will call them back.

 

And you should give the police a call- not to give them personal information but to report attempted identity theft. Newspapers and news websites are eager to report on identity theft to prevent others from falling prey to a scam. Your report may help someone else from getting duped.

 

Get more identity theft protection tips online.

 

 

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