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QUILLS & QUEUES Police department helps community fight fraud Comment By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:16 PM By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:16 PM » Social News Oregon is suffering a wave of identity theft, a crime in which someone uses another person's personal data to commit fraud, typically for economic gain. Our state ranks third highest in the nation for such crimes, according to a report by the Federal trade commission last year. For victims, the crime can be life-altering, says Ashland Police Department's crime-prevention specialist Ron Kohl. “Identity theft can change everything about the way you do business or conduct day-to-day transactions,” he said.  In an effort to fight this fast-growing crime, the Ashland Police Department is offering a free class, “Reduce Identity Theft with Prevention Tip s,” taught by Kohl. There will be two classes on Friday, March 27, at 1:30 and 6 p.m., at The Grove, 1195 East Main St. The class is aimed at reducing the risk of having personal information stolen and used to commit theft or fraud. “The information I'm teaching is extremely important, and I hope to make everyone aware of what to look for in these cases and how to get back their personal information,” said Kohl. The class will address issues such as protecting your identity, handling telemarketers, acquiring free credit reports and what to do if your identity is stolen. “People will come away able to recognize potentially dangerous situations and know how to handle them without fear,” he said. Kohl, a retired police officer and volunteer at the Ashland Police Department, is nationally certified in crime prevention and has worked on a number of national fraud cases. He recalls his work investigating a scam involving the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes in which people were told they had won millions of dollars and then were asked to send the organization money. “There are some pretty slick frauds out there, but even they can be spotted if you know what to look for and aren't afraid to report it,” said Kohl. He says that a lot of people are embarrassed when their identity is stolen, but the best thing to do is to report it as soon as possible. “Coordination between the public and the police is one of the best methods of crime prevention,” he said. “Our primary goal is to prevent a crime in the first place, but if there is a crime, we want the public to tell us about it and to know that we are a resource for them,” he added. In addition to the community class, Kohl recommends people educate themselves as much as possible. He suggests visiting the Federal Trade Commission's website at consumer.ftc.gov , and the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov . “I get a lot of good information from these sites and they update them frequently,” said Kohl.  While there is no guaranteed way for people to protect themselves from identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission website suggests steps to reduce the risk:  • Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments in emails, text messages or on the Internet. These often contain malware that can hijack your computer and steal sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, usernames, passwords and dates of birth. • Create strong and unique passwords using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using common words or names in your password and don’t use the same password across multiple websites. • Review your credit reports regularly and report any suspicious activity promptly.  Even armed with information, Kohl stresses that awareness is key to avoiding becoming a crime victim. “If I could give one piece of advice it is to trust your gut instinct. If something doesn't feel right, don’t do it,” he said.  The Grove is across the parking lot from the Ashland Police Department. To reserve a spot in the class, call the Ashland police at 541-482-5211. For more information about crime prevention practices, contact Ron Kohl at [email protected].  Reach Ashland freelance writer Angela Decker at [email protected].   By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 5:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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