Category Archives: Internet Crime

US Data Breach

MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Posted on by

It has been on the news recently, but there is a real possibility that the personal data of billions of US and UK citizens has been compromised and shared on the dark web. A simple internet search using “national data breach” as search terms will give you all the information one could hope for. A hacking group claims claims to have obtained this information, which includes names and Social Security numbers. The impact of this is yet to be seen but is is always better to be proactive in these situations.

The best advice is for consumers to not wait until their credit has been compromised to do something. Experts advise to “freeze” personal credit histories. This is a simple and free process but must be done on each of the three main credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Again there is ample information online on how to do this and the benefits.

Below are links to each credit bureau:

TransUnion

Experian

Equifax

Calls regarding fraudulent Social Security activity

MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Posted on by

There is a reoccurring scam active again involving local residents receiving unsolicited calls from persons claiming to be from an out of state law enforcement agency regarding fraudulent Social Security activity.

These are most assuredly a scam.

The caller will identify themselves as a member of the federal government and give an employee number and possibly a case number. They may know the name of the person they are calling and will likely ask for a date of birth and Social Security number.

From there, the caller will state a number of things which may include there are warrants for the victim’s arrest, that they owe money, or that they need to change their Social Security number.

If you get a call like this hang up. The Social Security Administration will NOT call you about this. Neither will the IRS. It is generally not possible to change your Social Security number.

Do NOT give out your date of birth. Do NOT give out your Social Security number. Do NOT make arrangements to meet, to send money, or try to engage the caller in any way. Hang up.

If you do give out your birth date or any other information, contact your banks and any lending institutions you do business with and inform them that you were the victim of this scam. Change any online passwords you have. Obtain a credit history for yourself and review it routinely for any fraudulent activity.

Please don’t be a victim.

Reminder – Never give information to unknown callers

MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Posted on by

The scammers are at it again and some are creative.

Whenever the phone rings and the caller asks for personal information – like address, birthdays, or Social Security number – always be wary. If it is an unsolicited call, a “cold call”, and not from a trusted business or source, hang up.

Do not engage them in conversation. The callers are trained to extract information with trickery and deceit.

Do not give any information.

If its possible the call may be legitimate, ask for a call back number, the name of a supervisor, and why they are calling. A legitimate caller will state their business clearly and provide any information asked of them.

The best practice is not not do any unsolicited business by phone. And never,ever give out your Social Security number to someone you do not know.

PSA – Perpetrators use various methods to deceive and defraud elderly victims for financial gain

MADISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Posted on by

From Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud, racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually. Criminals use a variety of methods to deceive these victims, … Continue reading →