Newlyweds targeted in ID theft scam
Newlyweds targeted in ID theft scam
The envelope looks official, complete with a seal and a warning from the federal government.
But officials have a warning of their own: Don't fall for it.
The latest identity theft scam targets newlyweds, and it's a good one, said New Castle County Clerk of the Peace Ken Boulden.
The unwitting couple receives a letter saying they are required to register their name change with the federal government. They are asked to supply a wealth of personal information - address, birth date, even Social Security number. A fee of $15 to $20 is needed, payable by check or credit card.
'Not only have you given them your entire life on this registration card, you've given them copies of your signature, your routing number or your bank account number - and you're paying them to take it. Can you imagine?' Boulden said.
It's nothing more than a scam.
'There is no federal or state requirement or law that mandates that you register or record your change of name after marriage, period,' he said. 'If you get it, throw it away.'
Boulden first learned of this relatively new scam a few weeks ago while attending a conference in Washington, D.C. He said he was surprised to hear of it, and even more surprised that newlyweds have started calling his office to ask about mailings from entities with official-sounding names such as National Record Service Corp. and U.S. Record Service Corp.
Cynthia Whalen, of Wilmington, was one of those callers. She got married Jan. 15, and the letter came amid a flurry of wedding and honeymoon mail. She called Boulden, who did some research and determined the registration request from Federal Record Service Corp. was bogus.
The letter asked for her name, her parents' names and their dates and places of birth, as well as Social Security numbers.
'For $15, look what they get - golden information,' she said.
In Sussex County, Clerk of the Peace George Parish said he's had no reports of the scam. But he wants residents to come to him if they get such a letter.
'We'll address it immediately,' he said.
Kent County Clerk of the Peace Loretta Wooten said she hasn't received calls about the scam either. She said residents need not worry - a copy of each Kent County marriage license is sent to the state.
Couples who apply for a marriage license in New Castle County can purchase a Newlywed Name Change Kit for $10 that contains government forms and instructions for getting a new Social Security card and passport. The county's kit is Delaware-specific, but other kits are sold on the Internet and through bridal magazines.
The key, Boulden reminds, is that legitimate kits will not ask for personal information to be submitted to the company.
'This scam is another example of the fact that we're all so darn busy,' he said. 'We think this must be something we forgot to do, so you do it. Months later you find out your whole life is upside down and you don't have a clue.'
The envelope looks official, complete with a seal and a warning from the federal government.
But officials have a warning of their own: Don't fall for it.
The latest identity theft scam targets newlyweds, and it's a good one, said New Castle County Clerk of the Peace Ken Boulden.
The unwitting couple receives a letter saying they are required to register their name change with the federal government. They are asked to supply a wealth of personal information - address, birth date, even Social Security number. A fee of $15 to $20 is needed, payable by check or credit card.
'Not only have you given them your entire life on this registration card, you've given them copies of your signature, your routing number or your bank account number - and you're paying them to take it. Can you imagine?' Boulden said.
It's nothing more than a scam.
'There is no federal or state requirement or law that mandates that you register or record your change of name after marriage, period,' he said. 'If you get it, throw it away.'
Boulden first learned of this relatively new scam a few weeks ago while attending a conference in Washington, D.C. He said he was surprised to hear of it, and even more surprised that newlyweds have started calling his office to ask about mailings from entities with official-sounding names such as National Record Service Corp. and U.S. Record Service Corp.
Cynthia Whalen, of Wilmington, was one of those callers. She got married Jan. 15, and the letter came amid a flurry of wedding and honeymoon mail. She called Boulden, who did some research and determined the registration request from Federal Record Service Corp. was bogus.
The letter asked for her name, her parents' names and their dates and places of birth, as well as Social Security numbers.
'For $15, look what they get - golden information,' she said.
In Sussex County, Clerk of the Peace George Parish said he's had no reports of the scam. But he wants residents to come to him if they get such a letter.
'We'll address it immediately,' he said.
Kent County Clerk of the Peace Loretta Wooten said she hasn't received calls about the scam either. She said residents need not worry - a copy of each Kent County marriage license is sent to the state.
Couples who apply for a marriage license in New Castle County can purchase a Newlywed Name Change Kit for $10 that contains government forms and instructions for getting a new Social Security card and passport. The county's kit is Delaware-specific, but other kits are sold on the Internet and through bridal magazines.
The key, Boulden reminds, is that legitimate kits will not ask for personal information to be submitted to the company.
'This scam is another example of the fact that we're all so darn busy,' he said. 'We think this must be something we forgot to do, so you do it. Months later you find out your whole life is upside down and you don't have a clue.'
