How to Prevent Identity Theft

Residents gathered at the Naperville Municipal Center for a scam awareness and prevention program.

Don Bisch, an investigator with the Naperville Police Department, said scammers will try to impersonate legitimate businesses to gain access to personal information.

“Do not give anyone your credit card information over the phone,” Bisch warned. “What I always tell people is if it’s a legitimate charity you will get them, Lord knows I get them. I get them all the time. I always say, ‘If you’re legitimate here’s my address mail me some information if I decide I want to donate then I’ll send you a check.’”

Bisch, a former victim of identity theft himself, said most identity thieves operate from far away.

“Unfortunately these offenders are operated from outside the country which makes it extremely difficult to get to the offenders. I would love to go over and my put hands on some of these people and actually arrest them, but it’s just not going to happen,” said Bisch.

Police say if you receive a suspicious call hang up, and notify the authorities.

Naperville News 17’s Christian Canizal reports.