Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Gary Hudes recently joined with New York State Assemblyman Tom McKevitt to present an informative seminar to seniors about identity theft and how to protect themselves. This program was held at the Town of Hempstead's East Meadow Senior Center.

Supervisor Murray noted that identity thieves access their victims' personal information such as social security numbers, bank accounts and credit card accounts and use the information to empty bank accounts and make unauthorized purchases.

"Somebody could be accessing your personal financial information without you ever knowing it," began Supervisor Murray. "There is good news, however. You can protect yourself from identity theft and we want to tell you how."

The seminar featured representatives from Empire Medicare Services, the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs, a customer service supervisor from the East Meadow Post Office and the vice president of Security Operations for Commerce Bank.

"The most important thing for people to know about identity theft is how to protect themselves," said Councilman Hudes. "We also want to ensure that they know what to do if they find themselves victimized by these criminals."

Some of the tips presented to those gathered, included being cognizant of billing cycles (a missing bill could have been stolen to access personal information), placing passwords on credit card and bank accounts and ordering copies of your credit report to ensure that there are no unauthorized credit cards in your name.

'There are simple ways by which people can protect themselves from ID Theft," noted Assemblyman McKevitt. "It is just a matter of getting this important information to those who will most benefit - our seniors."

Residents can call the Town of Hempstead at 812-3200 to procure a copy of an identify theft brochure that was distributed at the seminar.

"Don't let anyone steal your identify," said Supervisor Murray. "Do everything within your power to protect yourself."