[r67] The Bad Guys are At It Again! (9/22/2010)

Following a wave of aggravating telemarketing calls hitting Decatur, Franklin, Ripley and Rush counties, Rep. Cleo Duncan (R-Greensburg) is encouraging constituents to join the National Do Not Call registry and to take other precautions with personal information.

"Residents have been telling me about receiving phone calls from an 876 area code, saying that they have won an award and must wire money through Western Union," said Rep. Duncan. "These calls are fraudulent and dangerous, and I encourage constituents to report them immediately to Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office."

Any Hoosiers targeted by this scam may report their experience by calling 1 (888) 834-9969, and may use the same hotline to register their home phones on the state's free, easy Do Not Call list at any time. The list is updated quarterly on the first of each January, April, July and October.

A number is on the Do Not Call list may still receive calls from newspapers, charities, political candidates, insurance agents and real estate agents. However, "robo-calls" made to Indiana land lines-and U.S. cell phones, no matter what the area code-are illegal whether the receiving number is registered or not.

If an unsolicited call is received, Rep. Duncan advises not to give sensitive information over the phone. Legitimate businesses will not make unsolicited calls asking for Social Security or bank account numbers.

"Scam telemarketers aren't the only identity thieves out there," said Rep. Duncan. "Hoosiers should take extreme precautions with banking and personal information."

Attorney General Zoeller's office has the following advice for keeping personal information safe:

• Minimize the amount of personal financial information you carry. Do not carry your Social Security card with you unless you need it.  This includes government issued cards with that number on them.  Only provide your SSN when absolutely necessary.
• Memorize passwords and PIN numbers. Do not carry them.
• Keep financial information in a secure place in your home or bank safe deposit box.
• Shred documents before throwing them away. Purchase a cross-cut shredder to better protect your information.
• Shield your hand when entering your PIN at a bank ATM, store checkouts, or when making long distance calls with a calling card. This prevents security cameras, cell phone cameras or people near you from acquiring your pin. Shred ATM slips.
• Pick up new checks or credit cards at your bank rather than having them delivered to your home. Do not print your driver's license or Social Security number on your checks.
• If your bank or credit card statement does not arrive on time, call to make sure they sent it to the proper address. Also contact the Post Office to see if a change of address has been filed in your name. A thief may steal or divert your statements to hide the theft and use these as proof of their "new" identity.
• When traveling, you are even more vulnerable to ID thieves.  Keep all personal belongings locked in hotels safes/safe deposit boxes or with you. This includes prescription bottles that have personal information on them.

Contact Rep. Duncan by e-mail at h67@in.gov, by phone at 1-800-382-9841 or by writing her at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204. Those interested in receiving Rep. Duncan's weekly e-newsletter may sign up at www.in.gov/h67.

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