Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) today revealed that some would-be identity thief tried to use his good name as part of a $385 check-cashing scam. Tedisco said he made the revelation in order to help protect people across the Capital Region from falling prey to similar ID rip-offs.

Tedisco - targeted by identity thieves several years ago - informed the Schenectady Police after a local business owner told him of what he believed were two individuals attempting to use the Assemblyman's name to get two checks cashed: one for $185 and another in the amount of $200.

An individual called the local business pretending to be Tedisco, claiming a friend's car had broken down and he needed to have a check for $185 cashed to pay for a tow. The individual impersonating Tedisco then said another friend would come in and asked the business owner to cash an additional check, this time for $200.

"This is the second time that an ID thief has attempted to misuse my name and steal my identity for financial gain. I don't want any person or small business to ever fall prey to such an unscrupulous scam," Tedisco stated.

"ID theft can happen to anyone. That's why it is so important people are vigilant and on the lookout for ID thieves who would try and steal your Social Security, credit card, PIN number, bank account information, lines of credit, or even your good name and reputation," Tedisco stated.

"America's fastest growing crime is ID theft. Individuals must always be on the lookout for potential scam artists. Do not just take someone's story at face value, no matter whose name they might drop. ID thieves are very creative - they are willing to lie, cheat and steal to take advantage of someone's generous, good nature. I hope everyone across our community will be aware of the very real danger posed by ID thieves," Tedisco said.

"For the past several weeks, I've been featured in some local public service announcements sponsored by the New York Credit Union Foundation that discussed ways people could protect themselves from ID theft. The irony that an ID thief targeted me, again, just shows there is no such thing as being 100 percent safe from ID thieves. Awareness is always the best security," Tedisco concluded.