Identity thieves target U.S. troops

There is a new and despicable identity theft scam that targets U.S. military personnel serving overseas in harm’s way. Anxious family members of America’s finest here at home are receiving telephone calls to trick them into divulging the birth dates and Social Security numbers of their military spouse or offspring.

Armed with this data, the criminal can then apply for credit cards under the military person’s name, run up large charges, and evaporate into the woodwork.

As if our fighting forces didn’t have enough to deal with – separation from home and country, being involved in battles or explosive devices on the roads of Iraq, and all the associated horrors of armed conflict – now they must be concerned about having their identities stolen, their credit ruined and the fear and emotional devastation experienced by their loved ones back at home.

The scam works like this. A young-sounding woman calls the residence of the family and states: ‘This is Susan of the American Red Cross calling. I have some bad news. Your son (or daughter) has been seriously injured (or killed) in Iraq. They are being flown to the hospital in West Germany for treatment as we speak and we need to verify some data on their paperwork so there will be no delays to surgery when they arrive. Can you verify the spelling of their name and their date of birth? Can you provide their correct Social Security Number?'”

Once that information is provided by the frightened-out-of-their-mind family member, the female caller wishes the family well and states that follow-up phone calls will be made soon to update the family on their loved one’s condition. Then the caller ends the conversation. Mission accomplished. The scammer has now stolen the identity of the service member and the bad gals and guys are soon busy stealing merchandise with falsely acquired credit cards under the warrior’s name and wrecking his credit.

One of the main reasons this horrible practice has been exposed is due to a military family being contacted, but their loved one was stationed in the United Kingdom and not Iraq, so they immediately knew the call was bogus. They then notified military officials and the American Red Cross. If the reader goes to www.redcross.org and looks around on its Web site (it is not the centerpiece of the homepage), the details of this deception are available. Not only are identities of service personnel being stolen, but also the good name of the American Red Cross is being compromised.

When a soldier is injured or killed in combat, it is someone from the Department of Defense – most often the commanding officer or 1st sergeant – who telephones the family. Whenever possible, an injured soldier makes the call home himself. This is not the role of the Red Cross.

This scam works and confidential information is often readily provided because families are justifiably afraid that their loved ones will get hurt in conflict, want to rush to be helpful, and thus are susceptible to this miserable trickery.

These are troubled times for our nation, a time when our most prized treasure, our young adults, from Maine and from across the nation are proudly serving our country. These heroes are implementing America’s foreign policies and paying in tears and blood in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nearly 500,000 of our finest have passed through Bangor International Airport going to, or returning from, the conflicts. Each soldier receives pats on the back, handshakes, hugs and cell phone use from our wonderful troop greeters, who never miss a flight or a soldier, whether the plane lands at 3 a.m. or 3 p.m. The twisted weasels who perpetrate this identity theft scam on these magnificent heroes and their families should be tarred and feathered and more.

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