Check your passwords: Rockford among top cities in the US for identity theft

Dennis Horton
·4 min read

Identity theft is a decades old crime dating from the mid to late 1950s. While there are many dangers of identity theft today, we don’t hear about it being associated with the loss of life.

It's reported identity theft started by criminals on the lam from either the authorities or other criminals would pick a victim, kill them, dispose of the body and assume their identity. They would take the victim's name, social security number and any other personal information available.

The report outlines the other methods used to steal someone’s personal and/or financial information. It lists the telephone the preferred method in the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s dumpster diving and garbage picking was the rage. With the 1990s came the internet age and that’s where we are today. In its 2022 Identity Theft Study, Javelin Strategy & Research states the crime impacted more than 40 million U.S. consumers last year—costing victims more than $50 million.

The Javelin report listed the top 20 metro areas in the country with the highest number of identity theft victims. Unfortunately, Rockford lands at number 18 on the list with 792 victims per 100,000 residents.

The Forest City falls below Chicago, Springfield, Kankakee and Bloomington. As a state, Illinois ranks third only behind Rhode Island and Kansas.

So, how did we end up here? It’s the convenience of the internet. We at the Better Business Bureau have, for years, warned about being cautious while online.

Online security company, McAfee, puts it this way, “The more you use the internet, the more opportunities scammers have to steal your data and sell it on places like the dark web. Social media platforms, e-commerce businesses, banking companies and a host of other online businesses can store your information for a variety of reasons.”

The company also says, “If you use the internet for online shopping, for instance, there’s a good chance a large number of databases stored your personal and financial data. While businesses use your information to give you a better online experience, scammers can also access it to steal your identity.”

Are we going to stay off the internet? No. What we need to do is take a few precautions.

Here are some tips from the BBB:

  • Use strong passwords or passphrases. Avoid using your birth date, child’s name or birth date, mother’s maiden name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or really obvious ones like “123456” or “password.”

  • Change your passwords frequently.

  • Use different passwords for each online account or website.

  • Be careful about the types of information you share online, especially if it is information that could be used to get past security questions on your accounts (things like your first car, first pet’s name, city where you were born).

  • Shred outdated documents with personal information. While you should keep your tax returns forever, you should shred supporting documents for your tax returns after seven years. After one-year, shred bank statements, pay stubs, and medical bills (unless you have an unresolved insurance dispute). Shred utility bills a month after they have been paid.

Here's what you should you do if you have been a victim of identity theft:

  • Report the identity theft to the police. Ask for a copy of the report to show your creditors and financial institutions if necessary.

  • Contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) and report the theft to their fraud units. Ask each agency to put a "fraud alert" in your file and contact you before allowing new accounts to be opened or existing accounts to be changed. Request reports from each agency and review them carefully. After a few months, request new reports to make sure they are correct.

  • Call your creditors and financial institutions. Close all accounts that have been opened or accessed by identity thieves. Ask for passwords to secure new accounts.

  • If someone has stolen your mail, notify your local postal inspector.

  • If you suspect that someone is applying for a job with your Social Security number, contact the Social Security Administration to make sure your income and name have been reported correctly and accurately. You may check your Social Security Statement by calling 1-800-772-1213.

  • If you suspect that someone is trying to get a driver's license with your Social Security number or other personal information, notify the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Dennis Horton is director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau, which serves Winnebago, Boone and Stephenson counties among others in northern Illinois.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford among top cities in the US for identity theft