The Township Police Department has seen a recent increase in identity theft reports from residents. We are committed to helping you reduce your risk by promoting awareness and encouraging simple, effective protective measures. Identity theft can occur in many areas of your daily life — at home, at work, and online. Criminals are constantly seeking opportunities to exploit your personal information. Staying informed and taking preventive steps can significantly reduce your vulnerability.
How to Protect Your Personal Information:
- Monitor Your Credit – Request and review your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus at least once a year. Look for unfamiliar accounts or activity.
- Limit What You Carry – Remove unnecessary credit cards, IDs, and personal documents from your wallet or purse.
- Close Unused Accounts – Shut down inactive credit card and bank accounts to reduce the risk of fraud.
- Shred Sensitive Documents – Before discarding, shred pre-approved credit offers, receipts, bills, and any documents containing personal or financial information.
- Be Cautious with Personal Data – Only provide your Social Security number, date of birth, and banking or credit information to trusted organizations and only when you have initiated contact. Never share this information with unsolicited callers or through unsecured websites.
- Secure Your Mail – Promptly retrieve mail after delivery. If expected bills or statements don’t arrive, contact the sender immediately. Avoid placing sensitive information on postcards or outside envelopes.
Township Police have also been advised of a new Amazon Scam. Individuals are receiving fake e-mails about Amazon Prime membership subscriptions. These e-mails may contain personal information. Some e-mails may even have a link on the bottom of the e-mail, which if clicked will take you to a fake Amazon login page. If you have Amazon Prime, you can verify your account by logging into the Mobile App or visiting Amazon.Com. When you need to access your Amazon account, always access it by either the mobile app or by visiting amazon.com.
If you clicked on any suspicious links, please check your credit report and monitor all of your credit card and bank accounts. In the future, please do NOT click any links unless you are certain they are legitimate.
If you feel you have been the victim of Identity Theft, please click here to view the Identity Theft Packet. Please click here to view the Identity Theft Recovery Plan.
Identity theft prevention begins with awareness. Small changes in your daily habits can go a long way in protecting your identity and financial security. If you believe you may be a victim of identity theft, please contact the Township Police Department at 201-664-1140.
