New Iberia woman arrested, accused of identity theft

By Jeff Moore THE DAILY IBERIAN

A New Iberia woman was arrested Tuesday after Louisiana State Police said she stole checks from a woman’s residence and cashed them for more than $5,600.

Sonia Sonnier Cupp was charged with 24 counts of forgery and three counts of identity theft. She was booked into the Iberia Parish Jail with a $10,000 bond.

Louisiana State Police Sgt. Markus Smith said Cupp admitted to detectives that she stole two checkbooks from the home of Carolyn Miller.

Cupp then forged Miller’s name on 24 checks and cashed them for a total value of $5,631.97.

During the investigation, detectives also learned Cupp had used Miller’s personal information to apply for credit cards with three different lenders. All three applications were denied.

According to a study by the Federal Trade Commission, there are nearly 10 million victims of identity theft in the United States each year. The study said the crime costs consumers and businesses more than $50 billion annually.

According to the FTC, identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal personal information.

Some rummage through trash looking for bills or other paperwork containing personal information, a practice known as dumpster diving.

Others employ a method known as skimming, stealing credit or debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.

Phishing is where thieves pose as financial institutions or other companies and solicit personal information through e-mail.

They can also divert billing statements to another address by simply completing a change of address form.

The FTC offered the following tips to safeguard against identity theft:

  • Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before discarding them.

  • Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.

  • Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.

  • Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails.

  • Don’t use an obvious password, such as your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

  • Keep personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

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