Tips from Elk Grove Police Department’s Fraud Prevention Unit
The numbers are shocking.
- $47 billion is lost annually to fraud in the United States
- 27 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2024
- In the United States, someone uses a victim’s personal information without their knowledge every 2 seconds
Given the widespread nature of scams involving identity theft and fraud, it is pertinent that we are vigilant. Recently, two officers with the Elk Grove police department taught residents at Bruceville Point tips to prevent them from being victims of fraud.
Residents packed the theater to learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.
Some pointers to remember:
- Never use your debit card for phone or online orders. (Your credit card is insured in case of misuse.)
- Shred all documents that contain personally identifiable information.
- Never give a caller your Social Security number. Remember, legitimate places already have it and won’t ask you to share it.
- Review credit card and bank statements monthly, and check your credit score twice a year to look for any suspicious credit activity.
- Carry only the cards you need for a particular outing; leave extra credit cards, gift cards, and blank checks at home. Never carry your Social Security card.
- Always view requests for personal information with a skeptical eye.
- If you don’t recognize a caller, don’t answer your phone.
- If something sounds too good to be true (for example, someone calling to say you’ve won a terrific prize), it probably is.
- Be aware of how to spot a scam. Most scammers use a similar formula of pretending to be familiar, announcing a problem or prize that requires immediate action, and telling you to pay in a specific way.
- If you are concerned your identity has been stolen or someone is trying to scam you, talk to someone you trust. Two heads are always better than one!
If you are concerned that you might have been scammed or might be a victim of identity theft, talk to someone you trust and report the incident to your local police department. If it is credit card theft, contact your credit card issuer immediately.
Thank you to Officer Jill and her partner at the Elk Grove Police Department for educating us at Bruceville Point. As they reminded us, “If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.”
