•    Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write it on your checks. Only give out your SSN when absolutely necessary.\ 
•    Protect your PIN. Never write a PIN on a credit/debit card or on a slip of paper kept in your wallet. 
•    Collect mail promptly. Ask the post office to put your mail on hold when you are away from home for more than a day or two. 
•    Keep your receipts. Ask for carbons and incorrect charge slips as well. Promptly compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions. 
•    Tear up or shred unwanted receipts, credit offers, account statements, expired cards, etc., to prevent dumpster divers getting your personal information. 
•    Don't respond to unsolicited requests for personal information in the mail, over the phone or online. 
•    Check your credit report once a year. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gotten access to your account information. 

How to Report Identity Theft 
•    Report it to your financial institution. Call the phone number on your account statement or on the back of your credit or debit card. 
•    Report the fraud to your local police immediately. Keep a copy of the police report, which will make it easier to prove your case to creditors and retailers. 
•    Contact the credit-reporting bureaus and ask them to flag your account with a fraud alert, which asks merchants not to grant new credit without your approval. 

 

If your identity has been stolen, you can use an ID Theft affidavit to report the theft to most of the parties involved. All three credit bureaus and many major creditors have agreed to accept the affidavit. You can download the ID theft affidavit or request a copy by calling toll-free 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. 

For more information go to http://www.usa.gov/topics/money/identity-theft/prevention.shtml 

 

The California Highway Patrol understands the seriousness of this crime. Every CHP officer is trained to observe suspicious behavior on every traffic stop. The CHP is your partner in keeping your identify safe and we will continue do our part in arresting the perpetrators of these crimes.