Record-Journal
09-19-2007, 01:52 AM
Officials: Anyone can have their identity stolen
By Dan Champagne, Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD — Not even the commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection is safe from potential identity theft.
Jerry Farrell Jr. stood in front of about 50 people at Town Hall Tuesday afternoon as one of 106,000 state residents whose names and Social Security numbers were listed on a Department of Revenue Services employee’s laptop computer that was stolen from his car on Long Island Aug. 17.
“I stand here as someone who is pretty much in the same position as all of you,” Farrell told the people, many of whom had received a letter from the Department of Revenue Services alerting them that their information was on that laptop. “We’re here today to address some things we can all do to make sure the theft of this laptop doesn’t become the theft of your identity.”
Officials from the state departments of consumer protection, revenue services and banking spoke to the group about how to protect against identity theft and what to do in the event it happens.
Cal Mellor, a chief special agent with Revenue Services, said there has been no evidence to suggest that information on the laptop has been used. He also said there is a criminal investigation, an out-of-state criminal investigation and an administrative inquiry into the matter.
He apologized to anyone in the crowd who received a letter from his department.
Rick Maloney, director of trade practices for the State Department of Consumer Protection, spoke to the group about safeguarding information and about how thieves typically obtain personal information.
Some go through trash to find credit card statements. Others will steal a wallet, or mail right from a mailbox. Or some will simply look over people’s shoulders when they enter their identification number at an ATM.
Maloney suggested carrying limited personal identification and never carrying your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate unless absolutely necessary.
He also encouraged people to monitor their credit card statements and bank statements and to have their credit checked periodically. People are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell set up the identity theft seminars around the state following the laptop theft.
“There are no indications that the data from the DRS laptop has been accessed,” Rell said in a written statement. “However, we are offering these seminars to be proactive and give Connecticut taxpayers, particularly those affected by the theft of the laptop, the kind of tools they would need to protect themselves against identity theft. “As I have repeatedly stated since learning of this incident: I am making these taxpayers a top priority. These forums are just some examples of our aggressive outreach and our unwavering commitment to helping the affected taxpayers.”
Those who attended Tuesday’s program were so nervous about having their identity stolen, they were reluctant to give out their names.
“It’s really scary,” said one woman who wanted to protect her identity. “There are people out there with my Social Security number and who knows what they’re going to do with it? I guess I’m going to have to just keep an eye on it. That’s all I can do.”
dchampagne@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2227
By Dan Champagne, Record-Journal staff
WALLINGFORD — Not even the commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection is safe from potential identity theft.
Jerry Farrell Jr. stood in front of about 50 people at Town Hall Tuesday afternoon as one of 106,000 state residents whose names and Social Security numbers were listed on a Department of Revenue Services employee’s laptop computer that was stolen from his car on Long Island Aug. 17.
“I stand here as someone who is pretty much in the same position as all of you,” Farrell told the people, many of whom had received a letter from the Department of Revenue Services alerting them that their information was on that laptop. “We’re here today to address some things we can all do to make sure the theft of this laptop doesn’t become the theft of your identity.”
Officials from the state departments of consumer protection, revenue services and banking spoke to the group about how to protect against identity theft and what to do in the event it happens.
Cal Mellor, a chief special agent with Revenue Services, said there has been no evidence to suggest that information on the laptop has been used. He also said there is a criminal investigation, an out-of-state criminal investigation and an administrative inquiry into the matter.
He apologized to anyone in the crowd who received a letter from his department.
Rick Maloney, director of trade practices for the State Department of Consumer Protection, spoke to the group about safeguarding information and about how thieves typically obtain personal information.
Some go through trash to find credit card statements. Others will steal a wallet, or mail right from a mailbox. Or some will simply look over people’s shoulders when they enter their identification number at an ATM.
Maloney suggested carrying limited personal identification and never carrying your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate unless absolutely necessary.
He also encouraged people to monitor their credit card statements and bank statements and to have their credit checked periodically. People are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell set up the identity theft seminars around the state following the laptop theft.
“There are no indications that the data from the DRS laptop has been accessed,” Rell said in a written statement. “However, we are offering these seminars to be proactive and give Connecticut taxpayers, particularly those affected by the theft of the laptop, the kind of tools they would need to protect themselves against identity theft. “As I have repeatedly stated since learning of this incident: I am making these taxpayers a top priority. These forums are just some examples of our aggressive outreach and our unwavering commitment to helping the affected taxpayers.”
Those who attended Tuesday’s program were so nervous about having their identity stolen, they were reluctant to give out their names.
“It’s really scary,” said one woman who wanted to protect her identity. “There are people out there with my Social Security number and who knows what they’re going to do with it? I guess I’m going to have to just keep an eye on it. That’s all I can do.”
dchampagne@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2227