Identity Theft / Fraud
If you have become a victim of Identity Theft, contact the Police Department to file a report. In addition to filing the report, the following links provide more information on Identity Theft/Fraud from government or government sanctioned sources.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates another's personal information without their knowledge to commit theft or fraud. Identity theft is a vehicle for perpetrating other types of fraud schemes. Typically, the victim is led to believe they are divulging sensitive personal information to a legitimate business, sometimes as a response to an email solicitation to update billing or membership information, or as an application to a fraudulent Internet job posting. See also, Phishing/Spoofing.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with us. In addition, visit the Federal Trade Commission for additional information on security and fraud prevention tips.
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft.gov
https://www.identitytheft.gov/ is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.
Federal Trade Commission; Consumer Information
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft
This site will assist to close and dispute any unauthorized accounts whether those are credit card or charge accounts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) developed an “ID Theft Affidavit” that is accepted by many banks, creditors, other businesses and the credit bureaus. Go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft for a copy. Visit FTC’s website and complete the FTC consumer complaint form at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. The FTC is responsible for receiving and processing complaints from people who believe they may be victims of identity crime. The FTC provides informational materials to people impacted by identity crime and refers complaints to appropriate entities, including the major credit reporting agencies and law enforcement.
USA.gov Identity Theft; An official website of the United States government
Identity (ID) theft is a crime where a thief steals your personal information, such as your full name or social security number, to commit fraud. The identity thief can use your information to fraudulently apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services. These acts can damage your credit status, and cost you time and money to restore your good name. You may not know that you are the victim of ID theft until you experience a financial consequence (mystery bills, credit collections, denied loans) down the road from actions that the thief has taken with your stolen identity.
There are several common types of identity theft that can affect you. Click the link to read more about them. https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft
Credit Bureaus
You should contact one of the three credit bureaus to report the crime and place a fraud alert on your credit report: Equifax (800) 525-6285, www.equifax.com Experian (888) 397-3742, or TransUnion (800) 680-7289, www.transunion.com.
Financial Scam/Elder Fraud Prevention
https://themoneypig.com/elder-fraud-prevention/
This site is a great resource for financial scam prevention. This guide addresses red flags and signs associated with Elder Financial Abuse; Local Community Elder Prevention Locator Resources (FBI Regional Offices); top scams targeting the elderly, how to prevent, mitigate and recover from elder financial abuse; and United States Senate Special Committee on Aging Top Scan Prevention Tips. Click the link above to learn more.