Horizon hosts identity theft workshop

MOSES LAKE — With awareness training, identity theft declined by about 2 million cases over the past four years, said Winnie Hillock, Horizon Credit Union’s director of education.

But the problem of identity theft still exists.

According to her presentation, identity thieves can: open new credit accounts in your name, charge on existing credit card accounts, use existing or open new checking accounts, establish phone or wireless service in your names, buy a car by obtain a loan in your name, rent an apartment in your name and obtain a driver’s license with their picture in your name.

“Once they get your information, they can ruin your good name,” Hillock said recently to about 10 people during a free identify theft workshop at the Moses Lake Fire Station.

Thieves steal peoples’ identify by methods as simple as finding personal paperwork in a car glove box, she explained.

Methamphetamine users will break into your home to find resources to feed their habit and steal your identity too.

A problem also occurs when some children are assigned Social Security numbers shortly after their birth.

Parents have been known to use their children’s Social Security numbers and children learned years later their credit was damaged, she explained.

Dumpster diving is also very prevalent. Hillock recommended people use a cross-shredder to shred documents with personal information, then thieves cannot tape together shredded documents.

People unknowingly tell thieves there are outgoing bills in their mailboxes by using the mailbox flag. Checks can be stolen this way.

She also recommended people empty their mailboxes quickly, not to leave credit cards, ATM or bank receipts behind and to know where their credit cards are.

Rich Bishnett, the City of Moses Lake’s human resources director, attended the workshop and said it was beneficial.

“I didn’t think a lot of these things,” he said. “The key is awareness. What they’re doing is a good community service.”

Bishnett spoke of an acquaintance and a relative who had their identities stolen.

“It was a nightmare for them,” Bishnett commented.

He said the workshop was also held last year with good attendance.

Horizon recommends the following organizations to help consumers with identity theft:

• Avoid sales calls — visit National Do Not Call Registry, www.donotcall.gov or call 888-567-8688

• For mail fraud issues, call the U.S. Postal Service at 800-275-8777

• Suspected Social Security issues — call U.S. Social Security Administration at 800-269-0271

• To report checking account fraud, go online and visit www.consumerdebit.com or call 800-428-9623.

• The U.S. Federal Trade Commission offers help by e-mail at crc@ftc.gov, www.ftc.gov, or call 877-438-4338

If bad checks are written in your name:

• CrossCheck at 707-586-0551

• Certegy at 800-437-5120

• International Check Service at 800-526-5380

• SCAN at 800-262-7771

• TeleCheck at 800-710-9898.

Credit reports can be ordered by calling:

• Free credit report — visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228

• Experian at 888-524-3606

• TransUnion at 800-888-4213

• Equifax at 800-685-1111.

Shredding event is June 30

Dispose of personal documents

MOSES LAKE — Shredding your personal documents are among the tips to help prevent identity theft, said Josh Allison, of Horizon Credit Union.

The public is invited to a free shredding event planned for June 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Horizon Credit Union, 1704 S. Clover St., Moses Lake.

Give-a-ways and ice cream are available from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Allison said people can bring a box or two of documents for shredding. Bins of destroyed papers will be dropped right into the shred truck.

Free literature explaining the major risks of identity theft will also be available.

— Staff report