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AG offers identity theft repairs

The Kansas Attorney General's office has produced an identity theft repair kit.

Released only a few days ago, the kit is a brochure that describes how to prevent and repair damage caused by identity thieves, according to a news release from Attorney General Stephen Six.

Identify theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. It occurs when someone steals personal information such as names and addresses and driver's licenses, Social Security, bank account and credit card numbers, just to mention a few.

That information can be obtained many ways, but use of the Internet to make purchases or provide information is one activity that has led to identity theft increases.

The identity theft brochure details the immediate steps a victim should take: file a police report and close your accounts. Then it tells how to fix specific problems.

The brochure can be found and printed from the attorney general's Web site. You can also call1-800-432-2310 and have one sent to you.

New, audacious e-mail scam

Anyone who uses the Internet and exchanges e-mails has received the so-called Nigerian scam e-mails. Somebody claims they need your help getting millions of dollars out of a small foreign country. All you have to do is provide your bank account number so that money can be deposited. In return for your help some of those millions of dollars will be yours to keep.

A reader sent us a copy of an e-mail they received that is a scam attempt with a new twist. It's so audacious and ridiculous you have to wonder how anyone would fall for it.

The writer claims to be U.S. Treasury Sec. Henry Paulson. He claims the United Nations has told him to wire $1 million from the World Bank to the e-mail recipient's bank account.

An attorney will work with the recipient to prepare some documents that will clear the way for the wiring of the money, "Paulson" writes. They include an approval letter from President Bush and a World Bank clearance certificate. All the recipient has to do is send in their full name, age, address, phone number, occupation and employer's address.

There is no explanation as to why "Paulson" needs to be so generous.

By Mike Belt

September 30, 2008

Common cents