Prince William Crime Prevention Officer Marty Leake addressed the October General Meeting on guarding against identity theft and some common scams. While it’s best to contact him or his staff for literature on your particular concerns, he did present general information about identity (ID) theft and scam avoidance.

Protection against identity theft:

• ID theft is especially occurring in malls and within families.
• Carry only the credit and ID cards you need. Don’t attach PIN or SSN numbers to them.
• Sign your credit cards immediately.
• Leave your Social Security card at home in a safe place.
• Shred documents/receipts that have your PIN, SSN or credit card numbers on them.
• Check receipts to make sure you have your own and not someone else’s.
• Alert your creditor if you haven’t received your statement.
• Don’t give personal info/account numbers before confirming a person’s identity and verifying their need for such information.
• Check your credit report frequently.

In his discussion on scams, Officer Leake said anyone can be a victim but most scams target adults over 50. In addition, he said many scams are originating in Montreal and Quebec. Tips for protecting against scams include:

• Do business with those you know.
• Contact Prince William County; all businesses in the county are registered.
• Check bills and invoices for additional charges.
• Educate your employees about scams.