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Online banking, bill payments, and shopping are convenient, but they also expose people to the increased risk of identity theft. But so does having a phone (landline or cellphone), outstanding home or car loans, credit cards, an email account, or a Social Security number.
Identity theft, a crime where a criminal assumes someone else's identity for personal gain, is a serious issue that has seen a significant rise in the U.S. In fact, in 2023, identity thefts reached a record high, with Ohio ranking 12th in the nation for these types of crimes. The financial and emotional consequences of such crimes can be devastating, underscoring the importance of understanding and preventing identity theft.
Recently, Ohio law enforcement agencies reported on four different types of fraud:
1. A man received a call from someone saying they were with an online shopping website and said that someone had tried to purchase a MacBook computer using his account. The caller then said he was transferring the call to a local bank and, eventually, the Federal Trade Commission. A fake FTC agent told the man to withdraw $15,000 from his savings, not tell anyone, including his wife, and take the money and deposit it into a Bitcoin machine at a local convenience store. The man did, and now the police are investigating the theft.
2. Someone tried to use the name of a Californian to buy a car over the phone from an Ohio dealership. When the credit application was submitted, the bank alerted the dealership that it had been falsified. The bank contacted the Californian, who said her identity had recently been stolen.
3. Another woman received a call from someone posing as a friend of her pastor, asking her to buy gift cards for “needy women” in the parish. The caller asked the woman to take photos of the gift cards and text them to her. Instead, the woman sent the pictures to her pastor by email. That’s when the pastor questioned her about the gift cards, and she realized she had been scammed.
4. An 81-year-old man received a call from an unknown man who demanded $12,000 to get his nephew out of jail. The caller threatened to kill the man and his family if he did not have the money in a package and ready to be picked up by an Uber river. Unfortunately, police say the man and the Uber driver were both victims of scam phone calls. When the driver arrived, the man shot and killed her in his driveway and then called 9-1-1. The man has been charged with murder.
Scam artists often pose as trusted officials like police officers, IRS agents, or friends of relatives. Law enforcement experts tell people to hang up on unknown callers as quickly as possible because they are master manipulators.
If you or someone you know thinks they may have been targeted, please call the non-emergency Independence Police Department line at 216.524.1234.
In the coming weeks, the City will be publishing further information and hosting community forums to help residents understand how to protect themselves.
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