(Spencer)– Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country right now. And advocates for senior citizens say that segment of the population is now being heavily targeted.
Sandy Richardson of the Northwest Aging Association in Spencer tells KUOO news seniors, like everyone else, need to be especially cautious during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. The warnings are familiar: never give out bank account, credit card or social security information to people or companies you’re not familiar with; and be sure to tear up or shred credit card or other types of applications you receive in the mail. Richardson says perpetrators often sort through the trash looking for forms that already have your name and address on them. They fill them out and send them in with their address.
Richardson says so far her office has had no documented reports of identity theft from local senior citizens, and she says they intend to keep it that way.
Nationally, Richardson says identity theft of the elderly increased by two hundred percent between 2000 and 2001.
