Identity Theft Page
IDENTITY THEFT is the fastest growing crime
in the United States with over nine million victims annually,
including more than a million Californians. This crime will impact
one out of every four people. Identity theft is when a suspect gains
access to your personal information and/or account numbers, then
assumes your identity and goes on a spending spree. It is an
invisible crime that victims only discover after they receive a bill,
collection notice or attempt to make a large purchase such as a car
and then realize their credit has been destroyed. Not only do
identity theft victims spend money out of pocket to clear up their
records, but they also must devote their time - up to hundreds of
hours in some cases - doing so. In the meantime, victims are unjustly
harassed by debt collectors, denied credit or employment
opportunities, and in some cases even lose their cars, or their
homes.A key defensive tool that has been
available to California identity theft victims for several years is
the "fraud alert". A fraud alert is a message that an identity theft
victim can place on his or her credit file, which alerts credit
issuers who are doing a credit check in response to an application
for new credit that your identity has been stolen. An initial fraud
alert lasts for 90 days and is intended to prompt the credit issuer
to call a given phone number or ask for additional proof of identity
to verify that the applicant is not the impostor.
Discovering you have become a
victim
You don't have to be a victim of
identity theft for personal information to fall into the wrong hands.
In the course of a busy day, how often might you share information
about yourself in person, on the phone, or over the Internet?
Although it is impossible to guarantee that identity theft won't
happen to you, there are ways to reduce your chances of becoming a
victim. Most victims don't discover the crime until it is too late.
It can take a long time to reverse the damage these criminals can do
to your credit rating. Any of these indicators could mean that you
have become a victim of identity theft:
- Mysterious bills for accounts you are
not aware of
- Phone calls from creditors about
delinquent payments you don't recognize
- Mail from unknown lenders asking for
additional information
What to do if you believe you are a
victim
If you believe you are the victim of a
Fraud or an Identity Theft crime contact your local Sheriff's
Station, or Police Station to report the crime and:
- Notify your financial institutions
and ask if they have an identity theft assistance
program.
- Contact the three major credit
bureaus and request a "fraud alert" be
placed in your credit file.
- Complete an affidavit with information regarding you as the victim, how the fraud
occured, law enforcement's actions, documentation checklist and
fradulent account statement(s). Note: Some creditors may have
their own affadivit for you to complete.
- Send a "blocking
letter" to the credit
bureaus asking them to block the fraudulent activity from your
file.
- Contact the fraud unit of the company
that opened the fraudulent account. Request copies of
documentation related to the account, such as a copy of the
contract, statements or transaction records, and
signatures.
- Send a "dispute
letter" to the company
that issued your misused account asking them to remove the
charge.
- If you feel any legitimate accounts
have been compromised, contact the financial institution right
away.
- As a victim, it is highly recommended
that you contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the
fraud and file a complaint. The FTC is the national repository for
tracking Identity Theft Frauds. Click
here to electronically file your FTC Identity Theft Complaint
Input Form
- Keep a record of the credit bureaus, banks, and law enforcement agencies you
have contacted while attempting to clear-up your credit file. Keep
this chart in a safe place. This information is one of the first things the
detective investigating your case will request from you. It also
proves to your creditors that you have been diligent in your
efforts to clear-up the fraudulent activity from your credit
file.
- If you suspect Social Security number
misuse call the Social Security Fraud Line at (800) 269-0271. You
may also file a complaint online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig
Tips on how to avoid becoming a
victim
Avoiding identity theft is not simple
but there are several common sense things consumers can
do:
- Keep personal information in a safe
place and avoid storing important documents in easily accessible
places like glove boxes or day planners.
- Don't give your social security or
account number over the phone to anyone who has called you, or to
anyone you don't know. Don't be afraid to ask why your personal
information is needed and how it will be used.
- Shred all documents that contain
personal information before tossing them out. Never simply toss
documents that contain your social security number in the trash
can.
- Cancel your paper bills and
statements wherever possible and instead check your statements and
pay bills on-line from financial institution secure
websites.
- Monitor your account balances and
activity electronically (at least once per week).
- If you don't have access to on-line
accounts, review your paper bank and credit card statements
monthly.
- Refrain from carrying unnecessary
information such as PIN's, passwords, or social security numbers
in your wallet or purse.
- Retrieve paper mail from your mailbox
promptly and deposit outgoing mail containing sensitive
information in a secure mailbox.
Click here to download the Victim's
Guide to Identity Theft tri-fold brochure
You may contact the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department, Commercial Crimes Bureau , Identity Theft Unit
at (562) 347-2660.
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