We are constantly hearing about identity theft and what to do and what not to do.  We may know someone who has had their identity stolen or tried to work with their bank when their account numbers had been stolen. Just last week, I had a friend who had someone steal his account number from Saudi Arabia – since it was the bank’s files that were accessed, he did not lose his identity or any money. Others whose personal debit cards have been stolen lost thousands of dollars.

The older adult is a prime target for identity theft, and maybe even more so those suffering from memory loss or Alzheimer's. It could be as simple as paying with a check to one of the frequent kids who come to their door selling magazines, cleaning products or someone offering to clean their carpets “free” and entering the home. Explain to your parent and/or older friend that when someone is using their name, social security number, or credit card without their permission, it is a crime. Tell them to keep their checking account private, report any stolen credit cards or checks, always review their monthly bank statement, and never let anyone enter his/her home to give a “free” demonstration. 

Last week I attended an awareness presentation on identity theft by local police officer.

Some tips are:

• Do not have your checks delivered to your apartment, front porch, or a mailbox that is not locked.
• Do not use your debit card freely at gas stations, grocery stores, etc. 
• Shred anything that has personal information.
• Do not pay by check to solicitors at your door
• Do not let anyone enter your home
• Be very careful when buying things online. Websites without security may not protect your credit card or bank account information. Look for information saying that a website has a secure server before buying anything online. 
• Check with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to find out how to protect yourself from common online scams that can trick you into revealing your personal or financial information.

Remember do not share your personal information – Ask questions – Report any thefts. 

If you're caring for aging parents, you may check these two resources for more information:

Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
877-382-4357 (toll-free)
www.ftc.gov

Look for the booklet 'Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identify Theft.'
AARP- Consumer Protection offers a free online course regarding identity theft.
601 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20049
888-687-2277 (toll-free)  
www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer