Identity theft. Two words that have become all too common and a crime that continues to rise.

In June, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office received a report about an individual’s e-mail account being compromised.

“Subsequently,” Capt. Michael J. Trice said, “an unknown person or persons used the victim’s account and sent numerous messages out to the victim’s contacts.”

According to the e-mail, the victim was stranded in another country and needed money to return.  It also asked the recipient to send money by wire so the victim could settle his/her affairs and return home.

“Fortunately, in this particular case, neither the victim nor their contacts lost any money,” Trice said. “ However, there have been instances across the nation where good Samaritans have lost money as a result of this.”

This crime, the captain added, is known as the “Stranded Traveler Scam.” “In essence, a criminal will use someone’s identity in order to obtain money illegally, without the victim’s knowledge or permission,” he said.

While the Sheriff’s Office continues to field similar concerns, Trice said the best way to be protected if such an e-mail is received is to “verify, verify, verify. Call that contact and find out what’s going on. Be skeptical and ask yourself this one important question: If my friend were in trouble and needed help would they send an impersonal e-mail or would they call me?”

Deputy Jim McLaughlin, a 26-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, is a crime prevention specialist. Since 1998, he has been providing personal safety tips to Hanover County residents.
On Oct. 18, he told the Pamunkey Woman’s Club that identity theft has become the No. 1 crime. Tips he shared included:

- Avoid strangers who contact you first: on the phone and at your door. “Don’t give people time to make you a victim.”
- Scams by phone: if you have Caller ID, use it; if you don’t recognize a number, let the call go to voicemail or an answering machine.
- Don’t give away your identity: use reputable companies; track your bills; remove Social Security numbers from all documents.
- Minimize your risk: guard your purse/wallet; always treat items with personal information as classified; find out how your information will be used; give your Social Security number only when required; limit the number of items you carry, such as PIN numbers; don’t carry your Social Security card with you; don’t carry your passport with you; do not give personal information unless you initiate the contact.
- Don’t post personal information on the Internet, such as family tree sites, social networking sites or class reunion sites.
- Remove your Social Security number from everything you can.
- Guard your mail from theft: mail your bills at the post office.

In addition to identity theft issues, McLaughlin offered these tips:

- Always trust your instincts: be aware of your surroundings; be alert to danger; act sooner versus later.
- Avoid taking a bad position, such as isolated areas. Walk away from blind spots. The foremost, he said, is safety.
- Safety in numbers: avoid traveling alone; travel along busy corridors; carry a cell phone.
- Appear strong and confident: practice scanning; walk upright with a purpose; show you are confident.
- Use what you have: secure your home with deadbolt locks; install large peepholes in your doors; install motion sensor lighting or dusk to dawn lights; set timers on lights; install alarms.

The importance of reporting to law enforcement also was discussed by McLaughlin. The non-emergency number is 365-6140. And, he said, call 911 if it is an emergency.

McLaughlin