11-02-2009, 10:43 PM
I was very glad to hear that Sheriff Curran is going after this issue. I have read in the past that some police agencies are not pursuing these cases. I've been a victim of ID theft -it's not fun to clean up the mess.
Ask more area businesses to use E-verify.
Sheriff says ID theft is 'epidemic'
Comments
November 2, 2009
By FRANK ABDERHOLDEN <!-- e --><a href="mailto:fabderholden@scn1.com">fabderholden@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
If a successful Long Grove business man can fall prey to identity theft, anyone can be a target.
But truly frustrating part is not being able to solve the case, said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.
"It's become an epidemic, very problematic," he said.
The Long Grove victim learned something was amiss when the Internal Revenue Service notified him that he received income that he did not report for working at a number of temporary staffing agencies throughout the Chicago area.
Police went to one temp agency in Elgin, and Curran said the roadblocks and hurdles they met to try to get a picture of the suspect and any other information the agency had was amazing.
"It took four subpoenas to compel them to furnish us with the information and turn over a photograph of the suspect," he said.
They also got an address in the 100 block of Baldwin in Palatine, but that turned out to be a false address. Neighbors had never heard of him or saw him in the neighborhood.
Curran said the investigation is continuing. They are not sure how the man got the Long Grove businessman's information, since there was no burglary at the victim's home.
"There are so many different ways they can get your information," Curran said, from store clerks to the Internet. "It's very difficult to protect yourself."
Curran said that he has seen national data that says half of the illegal immigrants have fraudulent identification. He also said the state is not complying with E-Verify, an Internet system put together by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration.
It allows employers to verify a person's identity, and it is a requirement for federal contractors and subcontractors.
"Illinois is known as a sanctuary state because of that," Curran said.
The sheriff's office is also taking the tack of prevention.
"I'm not going to tolerate this," Curran said of identity theft.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1859416,5_1_WA02_IDTHEFT_S1-091102.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 02.article</a><!-- m -->
Ask more area businesses to use E-verify.
Sheriff says ID theft is 'epidemic'
Comments
November 2, 2009
By FRANK ABDERHOLDEN <!-- e --><a href="mailto:fabderholden@scn1.com">fabderholden@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
If a successful Long Grove business man can fall prey to identity theft, anyone can be a target.
But truly frustrating part is not being able to solve the case, said Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.
"It's become an epidemic, very problematic," he said.
The Long Grove victim learned something was amiss when the Internal Revenue Service notified him that he received income that he did not report for working at a number of temporary staffing agencies throughout the Chicago area.
Police went to one temp agency in Elgin, and Curran said the roadblocks and hurdles they met to try to get a picture of the suspect and any other information the agency had was amazing.
"It took four subpoenas to compel them to furnish us with the information and turn over a photograph of the suspect," he said.
They also got an address in the 100 block of Baldwin in Palatine, but that turned out to be a false address. Neighbors had never heard of him or saw him in the neighborhood.
Curran said the investigation is continuing. They are not sure how the man got the Long Grove businessman's information, since there was no burglary at the victim's home.
"There are so many different ways they can get your information," Curran said, from store clerks to the Internet. "It's very difficult to protect yourself."
Curran said that he has seen national data that says half of the illegal immigrants have fraudulent identification. He also said the state is not complying with E-Verify, an Internet system put together by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration.
It allows employers to verify a person's identity, and it is a requirement for federal contractors and subcontractors.
"Illinois is known as a sanctuary state because of that," Curran said.
The sheriff's office is also taking the tack of prevention.
"I'm not going to tolerate this," Curran said of identity theft.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1859416,5_1_WA02_IDTHEFT_S1-091102.article">http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 02.article</a><!-- m -->