Norwalk Police Department
Norwalk, Ohio
business (419) 663-6780
fax (419) 668-0345
Identity Theft
| How would you feel if you got a nasty call from a collection agency for a car loan you never had? Or if your application for a home mortgage was turned down because of information in your credit report about overdue bills on accounts you never opened? These are situations you could face as a victim of identity theft. While ID theft can take many complex forms, the essence of this crime is simple - someone steals personal information about you to use for fraudulent purposes. | |
| ID theft can happen to anyone. By guarding your personal information carefully, you can reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. But you may not be able to avoid ID theft entirely; it can happen in ways beyond your control. Businesses, government agencies and organizations that obtain personal information also have a responsibility to handle it carefully and keep it secure. | |
| If you do become a victim of ID theft, there is help available to guide you step-by-step through the procedures that you will need to take to resolve the problem. | |
| One of the scariest things about ID theft is that it can happen anywhere your personal information is kept. Your life is filled with potential crime scenes. Your mailbox, employer's files, doctor's office, computer and even your back pocket are all vulnerable to criminals who want to get your personal information and use it to their advantage. | |
| Here are some common scenarios of ID theft - where it can happen and the harm that can follow, depending on what's been stolen. | |
| Although you can not protect yourself completely from identity thieves, you can take steps to keep your personal information more secure when you're at home, at work, and on the go. |