Identity Theft 
Identity Theft Information

What is Identity Theft?
What is identifying information?
Does my local police department have to file a report for identity theft?
I am a victim of identity theft. What do I do now?
If you believe your mail has been tampered with or stolen
What if the person who stole my identity lives in another town or state?
Will there be an arrest in my case?
ID Theft Preventative Actions
Fraud Alert
Forgery Alert

 

What is Identity Theft?

Texas Penal Code Sec. 32.51 states that a person commits an offense if they obtain, possess, transfer, or use identifying information of another person without the other person's consent and with intent to harm or defraud another.

What is identifying information?

This can include your name, SSN, date of birth, bank account number, PIN numbers, etc...It means any information that identifies a specific individual.

Does my local police department have to file a report for identity theft?

Under Texas law, if you are the victim of identity theft, and you report it to your local police department, department must take an official police report. (Art. 2.29 CCP)

I am a victim of identity theft. What do I do now?

File a police report and get a copy of the report for your files.

You can normally obtain a police report through the department records section. Set up a folder to keep detailed information of the crime. Keep a log of all of your contacts and make copies of documents. Contact all of your creditors and notify them of your problem.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission.

at the Federal Trade Commission Website or at
1-877-IDTHEFT. The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints. You must do this yourself.

Contact one of the three major credit bureaus and place a fraud alert in your file.

Notification to the other bureaus is automatic. The three major credit bureaus contact information are:

You should also request a copy of your credit report.

Alert your banks and change your PIN numbers and passwords.

If checks were stolen, or a bank account was set up fraudulently, contact the following companies:

  • National Check Fraud Service 843-571-2143
  • SCAN 800-262-7771
  • Telecheck 800-710-9898
  • CrossCheck 707-586-0551

Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline:

at 1-800-269-0271

If you believe your mail has been tampered with or stolen:

contact a postal inspector at the US Postal Service Website and file a report.

What if the person who stole my identity lives in another town or state?

Your local police department must still file the initial report. In most cases, your local police will forward the report to the agency where the suspect resides so that they can investigate the complaint.

Will there be an arrest in my case?

If a suspect can be positively identified, then the case will be presented to the local prosecutor for possible charges. However, identity theft is a difficult case to investigate and prosecute. Many ID theft suspects operate over the internet and use fake ID's, making positive identification sometimes very difficult. The most important step in this process is for you to protect your personal information and your financial accounts.

ID Theft Preventative Actions

  • Never Give personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the call. This includes your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number or PIN numbers. Protect this information and release it only when necessary.
  • Shred all personal financial paperwork before discarding. This includes receipts.
  • Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and cancel the ones you do not use.
  • Order your credit report once per year and check for fraudulent activity. This is free in most states, including Texas.
  • Keep track of all receipts and never discard them in public trash receptacles.
  • Memorize your SSN and all passwords and PIN's. Never write them down where thy can be found by a thief.
  • Sign all new credit cards upon receipt.
  • Notify your credit card companies and financial institutions in advance of any change of address or phone number.
  • Never loan your credit cards to anyone.
  • If you applied for a new credit card and it has not arrived in a timely manner call the bank or credit card company involved.
  • Report all lost or stolen credit cards and file a report with your local police department.
  • Closely monitor expiration dates on your credit cards and contact the issuer if a new card is not received before the card expires.
  • Beware of mail or phone solicitations disguised as promotions offering instant prizes. If they are asking for personal information or credit card information, do not give it out.
  • Be cautious in disclosing your credit card information to any on-line service. Be sure that you are dealing with a reputable business before giving out any credit card information.

OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES

If you do not have a personal computer, or access to the internet, go to your local library for internet access.

Fraud Alert

Overseas and Internet Criminals are using stolen identifications and credit card numbers to purchase items like computers and computer parts from United States businesses. They then solicit American citizens over the internet for help in shipping the items overseas. These criminals solicit people through an online employment service or newspaper classified ad and tell the unsuspecting new employee (you) that you will receive packages at your residence. Simply re-package the item and ship it overseas, often to countries like Nigeria, England and Russia. You will be paid for each shipment allegedly. THIS IS NOT A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS!

Forgery Alert

If you received a check or money order through the mail as a result of a solicitation you received over the Internet to be a part of a check cashing business, a solicitation for unclaimed funds or as alleged winnings in some lottery, DO NOT CASH IT! This is also a scam. Contact the police department. Your cooperation will not result in prosecution. If you do attempt to cash it, you may be committing a felony, punishable by up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine.