Just Because You Live On an Island Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be An Identity Theft Victim

12/19/2012

Identity theft has been dubbed one of the fastest growing crimes in the 20th Century and an estimated nine million people will have their identity stolen each year. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is the first local law enforcement agency to create an Identity Theft Task Force. The Task Force was created in 2000 and is made up of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies focused on solving reported identity theft crimes. So what is identity theft? Identity theft is the unauthorized use of personal identifying information to obtain credit, goods, or services; or used for any unlawful purpose. Personal identifying information can be the use of your name, birth date, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, social security card number, etc.- even a professional license number can be compromised!



California laws require law enforcement to take a report of an identity theft crime and most financial institutions will require a police report before they take action to secure your accounts, and absolve you of the fraudulent debt. Prevention is the key. Monitor on-line banking activities, limit access to your computer, protect your passwords, and never carry you Personal Identifying Number (PIN) with you. More prevention information will be discussed in the next segment.



Prevention pamphlets are available at Avalon Sheriff's Station located at 215 Sumner Avenue Avalon, CA 90704. Please contact Avalon Sheriff's Station at (310) 510- 0174 If you discover you are a victim of an identity theft crime. For additional information, please visit the Federal Trade Commission web page at www.ftc.com .



Sergeant Robert Berardi



Forwarded by:

Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

4700 Ramona Boulevard,

Monterey Park, CA 91754

323-267-4800

SHBNewsroom@lasd.org

Twitter@LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News

http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment

Receive Text/Emails: www.Nixle.com



Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff's station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org



To receive detailed, up-to-date information directly from the LASD via e-mail, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD - Avalon Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff" and also register for your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply, depending on your calling plan.