Rockwall — Rockwall County’s criminal district attorney is taking a program to senior citizen audiences because she wants to warn them about one of the nation’s fastest growing criminal enterprises.

These criminals are thieves, but they usually don’t steal belongings from their victims. What they want, instead, is the victim’s identity.

Kenda Culpepper said thieves can take your name, birth date, driver’s license number, Social Security number, bank account number and other personal information to buy cars, steal money, open credit card accounts and even open telephone accounts so they can make international calls.

“Identity thieves have become very clever in trying to get your personal information because that’s what they want,” Culpepper told an audience of about 30 people during a recent program at the Rockwall County Library.

“They want your personal information so they can become you and use your credit history and use your financial responsibility,” Culpepper told the group.

They go through trash. They steal wallets and purses.

And they will even steal your mail.

“They steal your mail and submit a change of address form so you won’t see those tickets to Europe or that new car on your credit report or your Visa card.”

Culpepper said the “criminal element is coming into Rockwall because we still have money here.”

Because of the threat, especially to senior citizens, Culpepper said she saw the necessity of developing a public education program that focuses on identity theft.

Identity thieves prey on senior citizens, she said, because many of them have savings.

“That’s what these criminals are looking for, people who have that nest egg,” Culpepper said.

She said these criminals also tend to take advantage of older residents because they know senior citizens are generally polite and trusting; they have difficulty saying “no” or hanging up on people who are trying to sell them something on the telephone; some are lonely and are more likely to become involved in a relationship with a non-trustworthy person; and they may be poor witnesses because of memory problems.

According to Culpepper, seniors also are less like to report fraud to police. She said they may not want to admit that someone took advantage of them.

“Many are afraid to let family members know that they lost control of their finances,” Culpepper said. “They don’t want to lose their independence.”

Culpepper said identity thieves claim about 25,000 Texans as victims annually, “and these are only the people who report being victims.”

Senior citizens are encouraged to memorize their Social Security number, driver’s license number, PIN numbers and passwords instead of carrying them.

Culpepper told the story of a woman who applied for a job at a Target store and found out she already worked there. Someone had used her Social Security number to get a job at the store. Culpepper added that a follow-up investigation revealed that her Social Security number had been used 37 separate times for people to get jobs.

“So, somebody stole her information and sold it to at least 37 other people,” Culpepper said.

Culpepper said residents should not carry their Social Security cards. A member of the audience asked whether they should carry their Medicare cards.

“I don’t think so, and the reason is, what is the number on your Medicare card?” Culpepper asked. “It’s your Social Security number.”

Culpepper said medical identity theft is the “scariest identity theft to me.”

“And the reason for that is people steal your personal information to get your insurance,” Culpepper said. “But the scarey part of it is now their medical history is interspersed with yours.

“So, if you go into the hospital for surgery, now they’re not going to give you the right kind of medication because they think you’re a diabetic. Or, you are a diabetic, but they don’t believe you are.

“People have died as a result of medical identity theft, so it is important that you keep all of your medical insurance — that insurance card is very, very valuable.”

According to the district attorney, 250,000 people a year are victims of medical identity theft.

“That information is used to get medical procedures with your insurance, dupe insurance companies into paying for procedures that were never done, submit false claims for Medicare reimbursement, and get drugs,” Culpepper added.

She warned the audience members to never sign a blank insurance form and never give blanket authorization to a medical provider. Culpepper advised audience members to ask medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay.

“Then, when you get that bill and it’s a lot more, you will be able to ask questions,” she added. “Carefully review your insurance benefits statement. Call if you have questions.”