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Identity Theft with Two New Methods - by Barry Thompson

Identity Theft with Two New Methods
Barry Thompson, BOL Guru

Method One:

We all have had customers compromised by Nigerian letters or winning some fake lottery that the person never entered. When our customers contact the lottery sender they are typically asked to supply their financial institutions' name and account information. Many times the lottery will require the person to send a fee in advance to pay the taxes on the money won. The new wrinkle is that the mark must now send the ID thief their passport, so that the lottery can be sure the right person receives the prize.

If you should have a case where your customer is a victim of a lottery or Nigerian letter scam ask him/her if information from any of the following items were sent to the thief:

  1. Passport
  2. Pistol Permit
  3. Birth Certificate
  4. Social Security Card
  5. or any other information

If the person has sent passport or other identifying information, file a SAR and contact your local FBI office.

Method Two

Your customer is going to sell his/her home and the realtor suggests holding an open house. During the open house, two people enter the home and one keeps the realtor busy while the other searches the house for any information he/she can find on your owner/customer. This would include searching drawers and desks for identification and bank or credit card account information.

If you should have a case where an account holder has been compromised by identity fraud inquire if his/her house is for sale.

First published on BankersOnline.com 9/23/04

First published on 09/23/2004

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