THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WANTS YOU
TO KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

The District Attorney gratefully acknowledges the
California Department of Consumer Affairs -Office
of Privacy Protection, the California Department of
Justice and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse for their
significant contributions to this guide.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Identity thieves take some piece of your personal information and use it without your knowledge. A thief may run up debts or even commit crimes in your name. It may not be possible to completely prevent identity theft, but you can lower your risk of becoming a victim.

Protect your personal information such as Social Security number (SSN), bank account numbers, PIN numbers, credit card numbers, telephone numbers and passwords.

Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Check your other cards to see if they use your Social Security number. California businesses will soon be barred from publicly displaying Social Security numbers. For details, see Civil Code section 1798.85.

Do not leave wallets and pocketbooks in your car, at the beach, and at trailheads . Identity thieves look for places where people are likely to leave their valuables, such as hiking, jogging and swimming spots.

Tear up or shred all documents containing personal information including credit card offers and "convenience checks" that you don't use.

Don't give out personal information unless you initiated the contact.

Check your bills and statements for unauthorized charges , even if the accounts are inactive.

Monitor your mail . If bills don't arrive on time, it could mean that someone has stolen your mail or changed your address so you would not learn about fraudulent charges. If you are missing mail, contact your local Post Office or your local Post Office.

Control your financial information. If you have to provide personal information to companies, tell them you want to "opt out" of shared personal financial information with outside companies. You are permitted to do this under federal law.¹

Get your name off marketing lists and stop pre-approved credit card offers. Have your name removed from credit bureau marketing lists. Call toll-free 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688). Have your name, address, and phone number removed from many other marketing lists. Contact the Direct Marketing Association. This will not stop all marketing mailings and telephone calls, but it will cut out many.

Tell telemarketers who call you to put you on their "do not call" list. Federal law requires them to do this. ²

Beware of e-mail solicitations . Be particularly wary of requests that originate from foreign nations. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Protect yourself from "shoulder surfers." Use your body to keep people or cameras from seeing your PIN number when using ATMs.

Use encryption software on your Internet browser. Make sure this function is enabled by contacting the provider (e.g., Microsoft or Netscape.)

Advise your children not to give out personal information on the Internet or on the telephone.

Safeguard personal information when you have people working in your house or if you share space with roommates.

•  Deposit outgoing mail that contains checks or other personal information in Post Office collection boxes.

•  Use random CDL numbers, not your SSN.
•  Know if your information is available on the Internet.
•  Check your credit reports.

Obtain and review your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus at least once a year. Check for changed addresses or fraudulent account information. Copies cost about $8. In California , i dentity theft victims can get free monthly credit reports for up to 12 months.

IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM:

Report the fraud to the three major credit bureaus.

Ask each of the credit bureaus to flag your file with a " fraud alert ." Also, ask them to add a victim's statement to your credit report. Ask each credit bureau for a free monthly copy of your credit report. For more on what to tell the credit bureaus, see "Identity Theft: What to Do When It Happens to You" at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm .

Report the crime to the police.

Under California law (Penal Code section 530.6), you can report identity theft to your local police department. Ask the police to issue a police report of identity theft. For more information, see "Organizing Your Identity Theft Case" by the Identity Theft Resource Center , available at www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17b-org.htm.

Request information on fraudulent accounts.

Obtain forms requesting information from credit grantors at www.privacyprotection.ca.gov/howto530.8.htm . Send copies of the forms to all creditors where the thief opened or applied for accounts. Include copies of the police report.

Use the FTC's ID Theft Affidavit.

The form is available on the FTC web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/affidavit.htm .

Call creditors and report the identity theft.

When you call, ask for the security or fraud department. Ask them not to hold you responsible for charges the thief made. Ask them to close those accounts and to report them to credit bureaus as "closed at consumer's request." If you open new accounts, choose a password the thief won't know.

Review your credit reports carefully.

Look for accounts opened, charges to your accounts you did not make, and late payments or non-payments. Check your name, address and Social Security number. Look at the inquiries section of the report. Ask the credit bureaus to remove any inquiries from companies holding fraudulent accounts in your name. Ask each credit bureau to remove all information in your credit report that results from the theft. Order free new credit reports every month for one year. You may be charged a nominal fee for each report after the first free year.

Write to the credit bureaus and creditors.

Send a certified letter, return receipt requested, to each credit bureau and creditor. Repeat what you said in your telephone call (see above). Send copies of your police report and completed ID theft affidavit

If your checks or bank account information were stolen. Close your bank account. Report the stolen checks to the check verification companies used by retailers.

If your driver's license or DMV-issued ID card was stolen. Immediately call the toll-free DMV Fraud Hotline at 866-658-5758 to have a fraud alert attached to your license. See also "Identity Theft: Have You Been A Victim of Identity Theft? DMV Can Help," available at www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl24.htm .

If your mail was stolen or your address changed by the identity thief. Notify your local Post Office or access the Postal Inspection Service's web site at www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/ .

If you are wrongly accused of a crime committed by the identity thief.

In the case of a false civil judgment, contact the court where the judgment was entered. Report that you are a victim of identity theft. In the case of a false criminal judgment, contact the California Department of Justice at 888-880-0240, the District Attorney's Office and the FBI. Ask them for information on how to clear your name. Forms can be accessed over the Internet at http://caag.state.ca.us/idtheft/form.htm

If you are contacted by a debt collector.

Tell the debt collector that you are the victim of identity theft. State that you dispute the validity of the debt. State also that you did not create the debt and are not responsible for it. Send the collector a follow-up letter stating this. Include a copy of your police report and any documents you've received from the creditor. State that your letter gives notice to a claimant under California Civil Code section 1798.93(c)(5) that a situation of identity theft exists. Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the debt collector is not the original creditor, send your letter within 30 days of receiving the collector's first written demand for payment.

THE VENTURA COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
CONSUMER MEDIATORS
WILL PROVIDE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

You may contact them at:
Hall of Justice
800 South Victoria Avenue , Room 314.
Ventura , CA 93009
(805) 654-3110