Victims and Residents Must Be Alert to Potential Scams
The Identity Theft Resource Center, a San Diego based organization, wishes to alert the public of several potential identity theft-related situations that might arise from the catastrophic fires raging throughout Southern California. The ITRC recognizes the significant impact these on-going fires have made within the San Diego community-at-large. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all friends and neighbors throughout Southern California.
Scams:
• “Phishing:” Con artists will use this crisis situation to make phone calls to solicit critical personal information, which can then be used to open fraudulent accounts. Caller may claim this information is necessary to reconstruct any account which they indicate was affected due to the fire. Most credible businesses would not solicit this information in this manner.
• Relief Group Solicitations: Scam artists may pretend to be calling on behalf of a relief agency trying to raise donations. At this time of crisis, most legitimate relief agencies are all too busy attending to the immediate needs of victims. Only donate if you initiate the call to a well-established group. Hang up on any telephone solicitors asking for donations.
Lost Information:
• Individuals: Should you conduct business with a company affected by the fire, contact that company once they are allowed to return and determine if any of your identifying information (financial records, SSN, etc) is missing. If so, immediately contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for guidance on who to call. The information may be so badly destroyed that no one could read it but it also could be found whole by a potential identity thief.
• Should you find documents that contain information that is of a sensitive nature, immediately turn it over to the local law enforcement agency
• Companies: Should you return and find this client or customer information missing (for whatever reason), immediately contact the affected parties so that they can place fraud alerts on their credit reports.
At this time, the ITRC recognizes the difficulty victims may have in dealing with the potential threat of various scams. Any victim or resident who feels their personal information may have been compromised during this time of loss or evacuation, may call the ITRC at 858-693-7935 for the necessary steps to take to minimize possible risk.
About the ITRC
The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a San Diego-based non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft and educate consumers on issues involving identity theft. ITRC remains committed to stopping identity thieves from adding to the fear and anxiety which may arise from this crisis in San Diego County.