To address the growing epidemic of identity theft, U.S. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz is leading several efforts to protect consumers. In addition to sponsoring tough legislation to crack down on identity thieves, Schwartz will be hosting two consumer protection workshops in February.

“There are simple – but critically important – actions that consumers should take to help protect their personal finances. For instance, under law, consumers are now eligible for a free credit report. Checking your credit report on a regular basis is a quick and easy way to monitor for any discrepancies or errors,” said Representative Schwartz. 

“This February, I will be hosting identity theft protection workshops in Philadelphia and Montgomery County to educate consumers on actions to take to protect your personal finances and information,” announced Schwartz.

At these workshops representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Abington Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Services agency will be on hand to offer advice and information.  Experts will discuss strategies and tips to protect your personal finances and information, as well as what action you should take if you find yourself the victim of identity theft.

Constituents are encouraged to share this information with their family, friends, and neighbors. For more information or to register for the workshop constituents should contact either 215-517-6572 (Montgomery County) or 215-335-3355 (Philadelphia).

Montgomery County Identity Theft Workshop

WHEN:           Monday, February 6

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. 

WHERE:        DeVry University Auditorium

1140 Virginia Drive

Ft. Washington, PA 19034

(Next to the Fort Washington Convention Center) 

Philadelphia Identity Theft Workshop

WHEN:           Monday, February 13

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. 

WHERE:        Holy Family University

Campus Center, Room 115

9801 Frankford Ave (Frankford and Grant Avenues)

Philadelphia, PA 19114

The panel of experts presenters scheduled to attend includes:

Derick Rill, Federal Trade Commission

Derick Rill was appointed in October 2001 to the Federal Trade Commission by President Bush to implement programs expanding awareness about the agency’s consumer protection programs.  First serving in the FTC’s press office for a little more than a year, Derick worked with the media for coverage promoting awareness about such FTC opportunities as learning about safe computing, avoiding and reporting identity theft, and signing up for the National Do-Not-Call Registry. 

Before joining the Commission, Derick held private sector jobs serving as governmental affairs advisor for Washington law firm clients and was a corporate communications manager for high tech companies, including a stint with Ericsson Inc.  He has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern and spent the first decade of his career as a reporter with such newspapers as the Houston Post, the Chicago Sun-Times, and several trade publications.

Marie Lalley, Community Liaison, Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General

As a member of the Community Liaison Team within the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Ms. Lalley provides seminars on fraud, scams and con artists who target seniors within Pennsylvania. Ms. Lalley has also worked with the PA Treasury Dept. as well as the PA Dept. of Revenue. Ms. Lalley is a former member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Women and is currently a member of the Montgomery County Commission on Women and Families.

Sergeant Joe Cella, Philadelphia Police Department

Sergeant Joe Cella is a 29 year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. Currently Sgt. Cella supervises the Economic Crime and Crimes Against the Retired and Elderly sections of the Major Crimes Unit. He has worked 21 years in the Detective Bureau, including service working as a detective in the Northwest Division, Special Investigation Unit; as a supervisor in the North Central Division, Special Investigation Unit, and supervising a Fugitive Apprehension Team in conjunction with a Federal/State Task Force.

Deputy Chief John A. Livingood, Abington Police Department

Deputy Chief John A. Livingood has been a member of the Abington Police Department for 34 years. His current duties include heading all criminal investigations. Livingood has spent most of his law enforcement career in the detective division.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Deputy Chief Livingood holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Philadelphia University, and is a graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute’s School of Police Staff and Command. Livingood is a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI) and is a certified instructor by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer’s Training Commission.

Bill Cobb, U.S. Postal Inspector, U.S Postal Inspection Service

Bill Cobb has been a U.S. Postal Inspector for seven years and is currently assigned to the Philadelphia field office.  In his current assignment on the Financial Crimes team, he investigates cases involving identity theft.  On previous assignments he has worked on cases involving narcotics and money laundering.  A native of the Washington D.C. area, Bill graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in accounting.  Bill, his wife, and their twin daughters currently reside in Pottstown.

Bob Bankhead, U.S Postal Inspector, U.S Postal Inspection Service

Bob Bankhead has served as a U.S. Postal Inspector since graduating from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service training academy in December 1990. He served in the Los Angeles division from 1991 to 1999 where his primary duty assignment was internal crimes investigations. He transferred to the Philadelphia field office in the fall of 1999. His current primary duty assignment is investigations of mail crime or diversion by external sources, with emphasis on cases of identity theft and access device fraud that involve the use of the mail. Bankhead works with the Philadelphia Police Major Crimes Unit on a joint task.

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