Company promotes ID theft protection

Roughly 27,000 people a day are victims of identity theft, according to E.K. Fults a representative of Harvard Risk Management Corporation.
In an effort to educate local folks about the skyrocketing risk of identity theft, Fults is offering two free seminars at 2 and 6 p.m. this Saturday at Three Star Mall.
‘The biggest thing we do is educate people on the problem,’ said Fults. ‘Identity theft knows no boundaries. You might get pulled over for a taillight violation and the officer might say you have five outstanding warrants for your arrest. It wasn’t you. It was someone who stole your identity.’
Fults says identity theft has been the No. 1 consumer complaint for eight years in a row. He says the problem can be more serious than trying to explain false charges at the county jail. It can be life threatening.
‘Medical identity theft can be life threatening because often files from two different people are merged,’ said Fults. ‘Then you end up getting the wrong blood type.’
As you might expect, Fults and his company want to help people protect themselves against identity theft. In today’s world, this is becoming a vital service and I’m strongly considering paying Harvard Risk Management to protect my identity.
Fults says there are only so many precautions the average person can take. This includes shredding and guarding all personal information and not handing over your credit card for a waitress to walk away with at a restaurant.
Outside of those simple precautions, Fults says there’s not much we can do. He says criminals now spend more money on obtaining stolen identities a year than they do on trafficking drugs.
‘They want your data,’ said Fults. ‘And the thing we do that no other company does is we help restore your good name.’
Anyone interested in attending one of the seminars can stop by the old Bookland location at Three Star Mall at 2 and 6 p.m. Fults can be reached at 409-8601.