| Q: Someone is using my identity but I dont know who it is. What should I do? |
| Q: How do identity theft crimes hurt the public and what should I do to stay alert to this problem? |
| Q: Months ago I reported an identity theft to a police agency. The accounts were closed down and the loss reported. Since then, I have not heard from anyone. How can I tell if the case has been solved? |
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| Q: Someone is using my identity but I dont know who it is. What should I do? |
| A: You should first report the suspected identity theft to your local police agency. You should provide them with any information you may have about where and when your personal information was used and whether you have any idea who used your information. Second, you should report the incident to the three major credit bureaus to keep the thief from using your identity to obtain credit in your name. The police agency taking your report will give you a phone number to call and make a report to each. Third, if your bank account or credit cards have been used or if new accounts have been opened, you should contact the company or bank with the account and inform them that you are being victimized by an identity thief. They will generally freeze the account and give you paperwork to fill out and return to them. |
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| Q: How do identity theft crimes hurt the public and what should I do to stay alert to this problem? |
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A: Identity theft affects over 10 million people in the US every year (Federal Trade Commission) and has been the fastest growing crime in the US every year since 2002. The estimated US cost of ID theft tops $53 billion annually and it is estimated that victims spent approximately 300 million hours to resolve identity theft victimization. It is a particularly frustrating crime because of the violation of personal privacy involved - an anonymous criminal can penetrate our homes and finances undetected. It is also frustrating because the threat of identity theft makes us uneasy in doing everyday things such as handing a credit card to a clerk in a store, making a purchase online of financing a large purchase such as a house or auto.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal identity theft cases ranging from individual transactions up to large, organized rings. We have a High Tech Crime Unit that focuses on organized criminals that commit crimes involving large dollar losses.
While no one can prevent identity theft, it is important to be aware and take whatever steps you can to prevent being victimized. Everyone is encouraged to exercise care to help in avoiding being victimized. A secure mailbox prevents theft of confidential information such as bank and credit card statements. Shred all documents with personal information including names/address instead of throwing them in the trash. Don't share your passwords or PIN numbers or leave them in a place they can be easily located and choose PINs that are not easy for criminals to figure out. Don't respond to requests for identifying information in emails or on websites you can't verify. Avoid using a debit card in locations you don't know and may gain access to your PIN such as gas pumps. Exercise caution in providing confidential personal information such as social security number, driver license number, and credit card information to people who request it such as medical offices or businesses and ask why the information is required, what they will do with the information, and how they will keep it safe. Don't have your phone, driver license, or social security number on you checks.
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| Q: Months ago I reported an identity theft to a police agency. The accounts were closed down and the loss reported. Since then, I have not heard from anyone. How can I tell if the case has been solved? |
A: Unfortunately, most identity theft cases are never solved. In many cases, there is no information identifying the person who used your personal information. To get a status update on your investigation, contact the police agency to whom you made the report. If you cant get information from the desk agent, you may need to contact someone in the fraud unit of that police agency to find out if the case is being actively investigated. Many police agencies screen new identity theft reports and actively investigate those where there is a likelihood of finding the perpetrator. If you have additional information, you should provide it to the police agency and include the report number of the police report you made.
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