PC 530.5
Unauthorized use of Personal Identifying Information
(a) Every person who willfully obtains personal identifying information, as defined in sub-division (b), of another person without the authorization of that person, and uses that information for any unlawful purpose, including to obtain, or attempt to obtain, credit, goods, services, or medical information in the name of the other person without the consent of that person is guilty of a public offense.
What Is Identity Theft?
Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number and mother's maiden name, in order to impersonate them. This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud which include, but are not limited to, taking over the victim's financial accounts, opening new bank accounts, purchasing automobiles, applying for loans, credit cards and social security benefits, renting apartments, and establishing services with utility and phone companies.
What to do if you become a victim:
- Set up a folder to keep a detailed history of this crime.
- Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents.
- Contact all creditors by phone and in writing to inform them of the problem.
- Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with:
US Postal Inspection Service 1-626-405-1200, for other phone listings look under Federal Government. www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect Contact the Federal Trade Commission to re- port the problem:
www.ftc.gov - The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. The FTC helps victims by providing information to help resolve financial and other problems that could result from identity theft. Their hotline telephone number is 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).
Sample "Courtesy Notice"
(Date)
Dear (Creditor Name/Collection Agency Name):
On (Date), I received your letter demanding payment of ($$ amount). I did not open this account and incur this unpaid balance. Someone, other than myself, wrongfully used my personal information to obtain a line of credit/service. Your company extended a line of credit/services to someone, other than me. Your company is a victim and should file a police report in the appropriate jurisdiction.
You are hereby notified that on (Date), I filed an identity theft report with the Burbank Police Dept The case # is (____-_________), a copy of which can be obtained by contacting the Burbank Police Dept. Records Section at 1-818-238-3140.
Closing,
(Your name and address) |
- Call each of the three credit bureaus' fraud units to report identity theft. Ask to have a ìFraud Alert/Victim Impactî statement placed in your credit file asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts.
- Request that a copy of your credit report be sent to you.
Credit Bureaus
Equifax
PO Box 74021, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241
- To order your report, call 1-800-685-1111
- To report Fraud, call 1-800-525-6285
Experian
PO Box 949, Allen, Texas 75013-0949
- To order your report, call 1-888-397-3742
- To report Fraud, call 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union
PO Box 390, Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064-0390
- To order your report, call 1-800-916-8800
- To report Fraud, call 1-800-680-7289
- Alert your banks to flag your accounts and contact you to confirm any unusual activity. Request a change of PIN and a new pass-word.
- If you have any checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the following companies:
- National Check Fraud Service- 1-843-571-2143
- SCAN- 1-800-262-7771
- Telecheck- 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
- CheckRite- 1-800-766-2748
- CrossCheck- 1-707-586-0551
- Equifax/ Liertigy Check Systems- 1-800-437-5120
- International Check Services- 1-800- 526-5380
- Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
- Obtain description of suspect (if known).
- Obtain witness information.
- What is the financial loss to you? Attach all supporting documentation.
Preventive Actions
- Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
- Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes or at your local post office. Do not leave in unsecured mail receptacles.
- Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number, or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
- Shred pre-approved credit applications, credit card receipts, bills and other financial information you don't want before discarding them in the trash or recycling bin.
- Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
- Order your credit report from the three credit bureaus once a year to check for fraudulent activity or other discrepancies.
- Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank counters, trash receptacles, or unattended gas pumps. Keep track of all your paperwork .When you no longer need it, destroy it.
- Memorize your social security number and all of your passwords. Do not record them on any cards or on anything in your wallet or purse.
- Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
- Save all credit card receipts and match them against your monthly bills.
- Be conscious of normal receipt of routine financial statements. Contact the sender if they are not received in the mail.
- Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
- Never loan your credit cards to anyone else.
- Never put your credit card or any other financial account on a postcard or on the outside of an envelope.
- If you applied for a new credit card and it hasn't arrived in a timely manner, call the bank or credit card company involved.
- Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
- Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards. Contact the credit issuer if replacement cards are not received prior to the expiration dates.
- Beware of mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes or awards designed solely to obtain your personal information or credit card numbers.
Internet and On-Line Services
Use caution when disclosing checking account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal financial data at any Web site or on-line service location unless you receive a secured authentication key from your provider.
When you subscribe to an on-line service, you may be asked to give credit card information. When you enter any interactive service site, beware of con artists who may ask you to ìconfirmî your enrollment service by disclosing passwords or the credit card account number used to subscribe. Don't give them out!
INFORMATIONAL WEB SITES
Federal Trade Commission - www.ftc.gov
Calif. Dept. of Consumer Affairs - www.dca.ca.gov
Privacy Rights Clearing House - www.privacyrights.org
U.S. Government Accounting Office - www.gao.gov
U.S. Postal Inspection Service - www.usps.gov/postalinspectors
International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators
www.iafci.org - (go to links section)
For more information call:
Burbank Police Department Financial Crimes Detail
200 N. Third St., Burbank, CA 91502
Bus. Hrs 1-818-238-3210
After Bus. Hrs 1-818-238-3000