Identity Thief

Identity theft is a serious problem and the Federal Trade Commission defines this as the loss of personal information and the use without your permission. It can be a complicated matter to correct since it deals with one’s finances, credit history and reputation.

Osage Nation Police Department (ONPD) deals with this issue quite often. They report that “the casinos tend to open up the public to predatory individuals who steal purses, wallets, cell phones, etc.”

Identity theft is committed through the use of:

• Bank account and/or Credit cards—THE BIGGEST ISSUE!
• Social Security numbers
• Dates of birth
• Medicare numbers
• Passwords, i.e., mother’s maiden name or father’s middle name
• Suspicious emails and/or phishing
• Smash and grab burglaries

The list of what fraudsters can do with your information and the ways in which they obtain it is creative and growing.

Protecting your information reduces your risk of becoming a victim. The FTC suggests:

• Keep your personal information secure online
• Keep your personal information secure offline
• Secure your Social Security number
• Keep your devices secure

If you are a victim file a police report. A copy of a report filed with the ONPD will be sent to the victim as a courtesy copy to use as proof he or she is a victim. If you are a victim you will need to contact consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. The ONPD also provides a booklet with instructions of step-by-step methods of protecting yourself if you are a victim of crime.

Osage Nation Police Department

1333 Grandview Avenue