Manhattan storm victims fret over potential identity theft
5:41 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Manhattan — Mounds of pictures, checks and documents fill area lost and founds.
But tornado victims raise concern to what they’ve lost – and who can find it.
From important banking information to details about their social security cards, we spoke to residents who lost their information during the storm.
Many expressed extreme concern about the type of information they had floating around the city: at lost-and-found sites or even in the streets. They say they’re not as concerned that they lost the items, but more so that people could gain those items and take away their identity.
“I took all those precautions,” says Nikki Straub, who lost nearly everything she owns in a storage unit on Amherst. Her recent wedding items, as well as her husband’s personal items were taken away by the storm. “Packed everything really tight with bubble wrap and paper and loaded it up. And, I mean, you just see boxes torn open and things just laying everywhere and you think about, ‘Well, I had papers in there, documents, I had, you know.”
“I had X-rays, medical documents and medical histories things like that that I’m not sure what I can ever recover,” says Rick Young, who can’t find his medical documents. He was in the middle of moving to Manhattan when the storm took everything – minus some clothes he has with him. “You know, for long-term medical records and things. ‘Does that cause a concern?” Yeah. It’s starting to because that stuff is starting to sink in.
Members of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division are in Chapman and Manhattan today-helping to keep storm victims from also becoming victims of ID theft.
The A-G's office says if your credit cards or checkbook are lost, call your bank right away. Also report missing social security cards and passports immediately.
“They couldn’t understand me” says Straub. “My brother had to physically pull me away from there because I lost it. I was hysterical. I couldn’t believe everything I worked so hard to get was gone. It was gone.”
For those looking for lost items, official lost and found locations are at the UFM Community Learning Center, on the corner of Thurston and Manhattan Avenue. And at Bear Computer Systems at Blue Hills Shopping Center.
Prevent Identity Theft after storms
Following the recent storms that devastated several Kansas communities, storm survivors may be missing important personal information or account information. While many survivors are busy cleaning up, it is important that they move quickly to protect themselves from identity theft.
If a storm survivor is missing important personal information like credit or debit cards, Social Security Cards, or passports, they need to contact the appropriate agency to prevent identity theft.
Tips to protect storm survivors from identity theft:
* If any of your credit or debit cards are missing after your property is damaged or destroyed, you should call the card issuer as soon as possible to report the card missing. If you don’t have the card issuer’s telephone number, you may obtain the information from your local bank, the web site of the company or by calling directory assistance.
* If your checkbook was lost, you should put a “stop payment” on all lost checks by calling your bank.
* Following the disaster, keep a close eye on your account balances and credit card bills. If you believe there are fraudulent charges to your account, call your bank or credit card company immediately.
* Following the disaster, periodically obtain a credit report. By examining your credit report, you will be able to recognize identity theft quickly and make efforts to correct it.
* If your Social Security Card is missing, report it the Social Security Administration at 1(877) 876-2455 and request a copy of your Social Security Statement. If your passport is missing, contact the United States Department of State at 1(800) 877-8339.
* If you are approached by an individual offering home repair services or disaster relief, use caution before providing your personal identifying information. Consumers should guard their social security number, account numbers and PIN numbers closely, especially if they are in a vulnerable situation.
* Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for assistance at 1(800) 432-2310.
Tips if you believe you are the victim of identity theft:
* File a report with local law enforcement. This will provide creditors with proof of the crime.
* Contact the three primary credit reporting bureaus to place a “Fraud Alert” or freeze on your report. EXPERIAN: www.experian.com, (888) 397-3742
EQUIFAX: www.equifax.com, (800) 685-1111 (order report), (800) 525-6285 (report fraud)
TRANS UNION: www.transunion.com, (800) 680-7289 (report fraud)
* Review your credit report for unauthorized account activity. Report unauthorized charges and accounts to your financial institution and the credit bureaus immediately by phone and in writing. Cancel any unauthorized accounts.
* Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by calling 1(877) ID-THEFT.
* Report the theft to the Attorney General’s Office. Call 1(800) 432-2310.
Identity Theft: How to NOT be a victim
Identity theft is a crime, but that doesn't deter people from trying to take on your identity for financial gain.
At work and at home, secure important documents that contain your personal data. Do not carry your Social Security card or any cards with PIN numbers on them. The U.S. Department of Treasury also recommends shredding documents with personal information on them.
And, that's just the beginning. Protect yourself from this crime by learning identity theft prevention guidelines. Check them out.
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