Published: April 27, 2009 09:50 pm      

Council to host ID theft seminar

EDMOND — Identity theft is serious subject, a citizen advocate wants Edmond residents to know.

And while some ID theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record, said Elaine Dodd, vice president of the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s fraud division.

Dodd will facilitate a COPS Leadership Council ID Theft/Fraud prevention workshop from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday in the Edmond Downtown Community Center banquet hall. The event, which will include a question-and-answer period, will be open to the public. Both residents and business owners are encouraged to attend, Dodd said.

One of the presenters will be Edmond Police Detective Matt Terry, who has been investigating white collar crime for the past four years.

Dodd spent 22 years in law enforcement doing investigative work for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, retiring in 1995 as director.

Since then, Dodd has been providing fraud-awareness training to thousands of bankers and customers across the state. She trains customers, retailers and business owners on how to protect their savings and retirement monies from scammers and their ever-evolving schemes.

Glynda Chu, spokeswoman for the Edmond Police Department, said Edmond residents fall victim to the crime of ID theft every day.

“It can ruin your credit for years and have a lasting negative impact on your life,” Chu said. “Many times, people don’t even know they are a victim for months or even years.”

Chu said this is the time of year when many find out they have become victims when they don’t receive their tax refunds. Someone else has used their Social Security number and personal information, she said. Money they were counting on is suddenly gone.

Dodd said the meeting will provide information for everyone, including retailers, to help them guard against ID theft.

Officials warn that many people do not realize how easily criminals can obtain their personal data without having to break into their home. Common methods include:

• Through a lost or stolen wallet, checkbook or credit card

• Through spying by a criminal (shoulder surfing) while someone enters a “PIN” and using their payment card at the ATM or a store.

• By someone who e-mails, calls or text messages the victim, pretending to be a bank or other trusted source to trick them into providing private information.

• By hacking, viruses and malware/spyware on a computer

• Through mail theft from an unlocked mailbox

• By retrieving unshredded information from a trash can (dumpster diving)

marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108