‘Pre-texting’ latest ploy in identity theft tactics

One of our New Year’s resolutions was to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft in 2007.

Despite that resolve, sensitive financial and identifying information sometimes falls into the hands of criminals.

Identities are being stolen every day in the good old-fashioned way. Bad guys are “shoulder surfing” at the ATM machine or “Dumpster diving” into consumer trash cans to steal information.

Bogus e-mails are sent to consumers claiming problems with a bank account and seeking a response from the consumer to resolve the “problem.” But there is another, more remote, more sinister method of identity theft about which most citizens have little, if any, information. That method is called “pre-texting.”

Pre-texting is a method by which the bad guys call companies the consumer does business with, such as a phone company, department store or power company and pretend to be that customer.

The goal is to get the company to buy the ruse and release to the pre-texter sensitive identifying information. Armed with the new information, the crooks can now take a wrecking ball to the customer’s financial castle.

Sometimes the pre-texter will use a two-step process.

First he will call the customer pretending to conduct a survey. “What companies do you do business with?” “Which telephone company do you use?” These and other questions allow the criminal to proceed to Step 2, calling the company and using the information just purloined to ge tmore information that can then be used to empty the victim’s account.

Often, lists of stolen information are sold to other criminals.

Some information about citizens is a matter of public record and not protected by identity theft laws. Property ownership, property taxes and personal bankruptcies fall into that category.

Making false statements or using false, fraudulent, forged or stolen documents to obtain personal information is illegal.

Consumers can help fight pre-texters by asking the financial institutions, medical services, utilities and retailers specifically what their policies are on pre-texters. Regular review of the credit report provided by one of the three rating agencies is also helpful in spotting unauthorized use of your resources. As soon as they arrive, check financial statements for errors or irregularities.

Talk to family members about pre-texting, and make sure no financial information is to be provided by another family member unless agreed upon.

Resolving not to be an identity theft victim in 2007 is a grand goal for many reasons. Be aware that pre-texters are out there, ready to strike the unwary consumer.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information, write Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.