Pittsylvania County man to be sentenced in ID theft

CHATHAM — Cases of identity theft committed for financial gain are rare in Pittsylvania County, according to local officials, but a Dry Fork man has admitted to trying to profit from stealing his mother’s identity.

Wayne Russell Little, 54, will face sentencing on Aug. 4 after pleading guilty to identity theft last week in Pittsylvania County Circuit Court.

Little pleaded guilty to four counts of identity theft and a charge of conspiracy to commit identity theft after using his mother’s personal information to obtain goods or services. Identity theft carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $2,500 fine, plus court costs.

A grand jury indicted Little for the incidents that occurred in November 2004 and August 2005.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Haskins said Monday that cases like the one involving Little are rare, but recalled a similar instance.

A woman had moved into a home and received a mailed pre-qualification for a credit card in the previous resident’s name. She purchased several thousand dollars worth of items on the card but was caught, found guilty, put on probation and had to repay the money, Haskins said.

Most cases, however, involve petty acts like someone with a suspended or revoked driver’s license using someone else’s identification when pulled over by an officer, Clerk of Circuit Court H.F. Haymore said Monday.

Here are tips to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, courtesy of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:

Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.

If you applied for a credit card and didn’t receive it when expected, call the financial institution.

Sign new credit cards immediately.

Memorize your Social Security number and passwords. Don’t use your date of birth as your password and don’t record passwords on papers you carry with you.

Never leave transaction receipts at ATM machines, on counters at financial institutions, or at gasoline pumps.

Don’t carry your Social Security card or birth certificate — leave them in a secure location.

Don’t disclose credit card or other financial account numbers on a Web site unless the site offers a secure transaction.

Closely monitor the expiration dates on your credit cards and contact the issuer if you don’t receive a replacement prior to the expiration date.

Beware of mail or telephone solicitations that offer prizes or awards — especially if the offer asks you for personal information or financial account numbers.

Match your credit card receipts against your monthly bills and check your monthly financial statements for accuracy. Watch for your monthly financial statements and bills. If you don’t get them when expected, contact the sender.