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Nation's Sheriffs recommend Seniors make a Safety List and check it twice...Holiday tips could safeguard seniors against financial crimes.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The holidays are often synonymous with shopping -- on Main Street, in malls, and online. Unfortunately, not everyone is looking for the best deal, but instead, the easiest opportunity to steal from unsuspecting Americans. Identity theft, robbery and check fraud are increasingly prevalent during the holidays -- and seniors are often the targets of such crimes.

To safeguard against financial crimes this holiday season, the National Sheriffs' Association offers these timely tips for seniors and those who care for them:

  -- Don't carry important personal information in your purse or wallet. As

     the holiday shopping season gets underway, purse snatchers and

     pickpockets are on the prowl, looking for distracted shoppers from whom

     they can steal cash and personal information. Be sure your purse or

     wallet does not include sensitive information like your Social Security

     number, personal identification numbers (PINs) and passwords. A thief

     can use these details to order checks or credit cards, apply for loans

     or otherwise commit fraud using your name.

 -- Use direct deposit. Your mail -- both incoming and outgoing -- can be

     vulnerable, especially during the holidays when criminal activity is

     heightened. If your Social Security or Supplemental Security Income

     (SSI) check or other payments are delivered by mail to an unlocked box,

     you may be at risk for theft. Direct deposit eliminates the risk of

     lost or stolen checks, reduces fraud and gives people faster access to

     their money on payment day. Direct deposit also protects against

     identity theft. To sign up for direct deposit of your Social Security

     or SSI payment, call the Go Direct helpline at (800) 333-1795 or

     sign-up online at http://www.godirect.org/. It's free and takes less

     than five minutes.

 -- Know who you're dealing with when you shop online. Many older Americans

     enjoy the convenience of online holiday shopping. If you're one of

     them, be certain the business is legitimate. If you have not heard of

     the company before, it is always a good idea to check with your local

     Better Business Bureau before making any purchase or providing them

     with personal financial information.

  -- Don't let your holiday trash become a thief's treasure. Identity

     thieves have become experts in picking through your trash. What's

     worse, during the holidays there may be a delay in garbage pick-up,

     meaning your trash could be sitting outside, unprotected, for an even

     longer period of time. Make sure you shred every document headed for

     the trash that may have personal information, including check stubs,

     credit card applications, monthly bank statements, receipts, and other

     documents thieves can use to commit fraud.

  -- Pay careful attention to your holiday credit card bills and bank

     statements. Whether or not you are a person who relies heavily on your

     credit card during the holiday season, make sure you are the only one

     who gets to make this decision. Carefully check your credit card and

     bank statements to ensure no one else is using your card and illegally

     making purchases in your name. If you notice anything suspicious, or if

     you suddenly stop receiving credit card or bank statements, contact

     your financial institution immediately.

For more information about the National Sheriffs' Association, visit us online: http://www.sheriffs.org/.

The National Sheriffs' Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among those in the criminal justice field. Now in its 67th year, NSA has provided programs for Sheriffs, their deputies, chiefs of police, and others in the field of criminal justice to perform their jobs in the best possible manner and to better serve the people of their cities, counties or jurisdictions.