Identity Theft
What is Identity Theft?
Learn what identity theft is, how to report and recover from it, practical prevention tips, common local scams to watch for, and trusted resources to help protect your personal and financial information.
What To Do If You’re a Victim
Step 1: Visit IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission) to report the theft and create a recovery plan.
Step 2: Contact local police department to file an official report — include agency’s non-emergency phone number, and what documentation the victim should bring (e.g., photo ID, FTC report, financial statements).
Step 3: Notify their banks and credit card companies to freeze or close compromised accounts.
Step 4: Contact the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert or credit freeze on their file.
Prevention Tips
- Shred personal documents before disposing of them.
- Never share personal information over the phone or by email unless you initiated the contact.
- Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication on all accounts.
- Monitor your credit report regularly (you can get a free copy at AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Be cautious of phishing emails, fake job postings, and online scams.
- Don’t leave mail containing sensitive information in your mailbox overnight.
Common Local Scams
Include examples of scams we see in our jurisdiction (updated periodically):
- “Grandparent” or family emergency scams
- Utility company or IRS impostor calls
- Online marketplace or Facebook Marketplace scams
- Employment and rental scams