| The crime of identity theft by employees is reaching | | | | were also investigated and linked to a Subway |
| record numbers, maybe because of a heightened | | | | restaurant in the Pittsburg area. Dinner out can really |
| awareness of the crime, or progress made by many | | | | be expensive, especially when using your credit card, |
| states in detecting this crime as well as enforcing | | | | maybe we should all think about paying cash next time. |
| stricter penalties. Consumers are not the only ones | | | | Southeast Missouri State University |
| who can benefit from the awareness of how easy | | | | A former Southeast Missouri State University |
| and common the practice of identity theft is. | | | | employee downloaded over 800 student's names and |
| Employers also need to be aware of the threats to | | | | social security numbers. Although there is no evidence |
| their business when employees are able to take | | | | that the social security numbers had been used to |
| advantage of access to personal information and use | | | | apply for credit at least two had been used in an |
| it to commit identity theft. | | | | attempt to log into student accounts. Students are |
| Important Facts Employers Should Know about Identity | | | | being advised to obtain fraud alerts and security |
| Theft: | | | | freezes on their accounts. The former employee, a hall |
| The number one source of identity fraud involves the | | | | director, was indicted on two charge of identity fraud |
| theft of employee records. | | | | and one charge of computer trespass. |
| A recent study by Michigan State University revealed | | | | "In Georgia, unauthorized possession of such data is a |
| that over 50% of identity thefts occur in the | | | | felony. In Georgia you don't have to show the person |
| workplace. | | | | used the data in any inappropriate way. Possession is |
| The majority of identity theft is committed by | | | | enough," said Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president for |
| employees hired to perform low-level tasks, such as | | | | administration and enrollment management. |
| data entry. | | | | Employers, did you know that the Fair and Accurate |
| 90 percent of these crimes involve payroll or | | | | Credit Transaction Act hold employers responsible for |
| employee records. | | | | these crimes? Any employer whose action or inaction, |
| 10 percent of these crimes involve customer | | | | leads to breach of employee information can be fined |
| information. | | | | by state and federal governments and can be sued in |
| Examples: | | | | civil court. Class action lawsuits can be brought against |
| Pizza Hut | | | | employers for both actual and punitive damages. |
| A number of complaints in Ebensburg PA, about | | | | These stories are just a few examples of what can |
| unauthorized purchases were made and upon | | | | happen with employers do not properly screen, train |
| investigation, police found one common denominator | | | | and monitor employees to protect their businesses and |
| among the identity theft victims. All of the victims had | | | | their customers. It is important to be aware of state |
| used a credit card in the Ebensburg Pizza Hut within | | | | laws for possessing, using and even disposing of |
| one month. A thirty-year-old employee of the Pizza | | | | customer's personal information. Companies can be |
| Hut was charged with making $6,700 worth of internet | | | | held liable for their employee's actions that put people |
| purchases using bankcard numbers and names of | | | | at risk for identity theft, even it an identity theft hasn't |
| Pizza Hut customers, as a result of their access to this | | | | occurred, as is the case in Georgia and as Radio |
| information. The thief was charged with seven counts | | | | Shack and other companies found out in Texas, when |
| of each identity theft, access device fraud, and theft | | | | employees threw credit applications in the trash; |
| by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving | | | | applications which held all the information needed to |
| stolen property. | | | | commit identity theft. It is important that businesses be |
| Police have encouraged all patrons of this restaurant | | | | informed, proactive and vigilant in training, screening and |
| check their statements carefully, as they could have | | | | monitoring their employees in an effort to protect your |
| been victims and not even know it. Similar events | | | | customers, other employees and your business. |