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Campaigns seek to thwart
thievery of identities

TWO similar public service campaigns are underway to educate you about how to avoid identity theft, which is the top consumer fraud complaint for the past five years, according to the federal government.

The newest campaign, by the Hawaii Bankers Association, drives home three main points:

The association's member banks all have taken steps on their own to educate their customers. However, the six-week television, radio and print campaign is industrywide, and "we're sharing in the cost ... trying to get those three messages across," said Rodney Shinkawa, association executive vice president.

This time of year was chosen because "our security people tell us (identity theft) usually picks up in October and November somehow, just before Christmas," he said.

"The key to preventing identity theft is really consumer education and that's why we're doing it."

Banks don't suffer losses from identity theft but employees' time is spent helping customers who have been victimized.

Hawaii residents lost $2 million in reported identity theft cases in 2004, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Shinkawa's nephew went through a long hassle trying to recover from identity theft when his credit card number was fraudulently obtained. Prominent attorney William McCorriston had his identity stolen after his office was burglarized over the summer, according to a Star-Bulletin story yesterday.

In addition to the association's efforts, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, through video production company Pacific Focus Inc., created four TV public service announcements to show common ways a person's identity can be stolen.

The state also has set up an ID theft hotline at 587-3222 and a Web site with tips on how to protect yourself as well as what to do if you have been victimized.