DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 27, No. 26 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | October 27, 2010
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Shred-It events can lessen number of victims
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Identity theft. Two words that have become all too common and a crime that continues to rise. In June, the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office received a report about an individual’s e-mail account being compromised. “Subsequently,” Capt. Michael J. Trice said, “an unknown person or persons used the victim’s account and sent numerous messages out to the victim’s contacts.” According to the e-mail, the victim was stranded in another country and needed money to return. It also asked the recipient to send money by wire so the victim could settle his/her affairs and return home. “Fortunately, in this par-
ticular case, neither the victim nor their contacts lost any money,” Trice said. “ However, there have been instances across the nation where good Samaritans have lost money as a result of this.” This crime, the captain added, is known as the “Stranded Traveler Scam.” “In essence, a criminal will use someone’s identity in order to obtain money illegally, without the victim’s knowledge or permission,” he said. While the Sheriff ’s Office continues to field similar concerns, Trice said the best way to be protected if such an e-mail is received is to “verify, verify, v e r i f y. Call that contact McLAUGHLIN and find out what’s going on. Be skeptical and
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Photo courtesy of Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
Shred-It events, such as one held on Saturday, provide citizens an opportunity to safely discard personal documents and avoid becoming victims of identity theft.
ask yourself this one important question: If my friend were in trouble and needed help would they send an impersonal e-mail or would they call me?” Deputy Jim McLaughlin, a 26-year veteran of the Sheriff ’s Office, is a crime prevention specialist. Since 1998, he has been providing personal safety tips to Hanover County residents.
On Oct. 18, he told the Pamunkey Woman’s Club that identity theft has become the No. 1 crime. Tips he shared included: ● Avoid strangers who contact you first: on the phone and at your door. “Don’t give people time to make you a victim.” ● Scams by phone: if you have Caller ID, use it; if you see IDENTITY, pg. 4 `
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Bon Secours Memorial among the top 10 percent of Regional Medical Center is hospitals nationally for pulmoranked number one in Virginia nary care. The hospital’s awards for overall cardiac services and include: ❍ Corfor coroonary Innary inter“We are dedicated terventions ventions, according to to providing superior Excellence Award™ a comprequality care for all ❍ Crihensive anof our patients, and tical Care nual study to be recognized Excellence released nationally is a Award™ last week testament to the ❍ Pulby Healthcommitment of our monary Care Grades, the Excellence leading inphysician, nursing d e p e n d e nt and medical staffs.” Award™ health care ❍ Stroke MICHAEL ROBINSON ratings orgaCare ExcelMRMC CEO nization. lence Award™ The Me“We are chanicsville hospital scored thrilled to be awarded these highly in several other specialty distinguished honors,” Michael areas, according to the study, Robinson, CEO Bon Secours including ranking among the Memorial Regional Medical top five percent of hospitals na- Center, said. “We are dedicated tionally for critical care, such to providing superior quality intensive care unit treatment care for all of our patients, and and stroke care. Additionally, see MRMC, pg. 4 ` the hospital’s quality was rated
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