What You Need to Know About Identity Theft and Fraud

www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com @BlackhawkLivingCA #BlackhawkLivingCA

By Aaron “Wally” Barger, Resident since 2012

Nearly 1.8 billion dollars was reported lost to fraud in the last two years. Children and seniors are at the greatest risk when it comes to scams. Approximately 30,000 complaints of child and teen identity thefts were reported last year and 20% target children. It is estimated that identity theft or fraud will affect more children before they turn 18.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that 35% of fraud complaints and 19% of identity theft complaints affect American seniors 60 years of age or older. For seniors, the likelihood of being the victim of a scam is greater because they trust the wrong person most often via phone calls or emails. Wire transfers are the most common method of paying money to scammers. Telephone contact with victims occurs about 70% of the time. The second most common method (9.7%) is by e-mail. Only 5% of the time is a complaint reported due to letter mailed to a victim’s home.

California is ranked third in the nation for reported identity theft. In a recent study, California had a 140 identity theft complaints per 100,000 people and reported a total of 55,418 cases.

California ranked 18th out of the fifty states in fraud statistics, which reflects a comparatively lower number of complaints at 570 per 100,000 people. However, California ranked number one with 225,296 complaints reported.

Surprisingly, only 27% of all identity theft complaints reported had contacted law enforcement regarding the theft. And, of those only 87% indicated a report was taken.

Most significantly, the emotional and financial impact of identity theft has consequences beyond the loss of data and personal information. For many victims the time and money to correct the damage is significant. Many victims have to borrow money from family or friends, take time off from work, or sell possessions to pay for expenses caused by identity theft.

The most egregious affect upon the victim and family is the emotional distress that can last a very long time. Many victims feel their personal financial security has been compromised. This can cause a sense of helplessness or powerlessness. The vast majority of victims suffer distress for the misuse of their information. In many cases, victims seek professional help to manage the experience of identity theft, either through treatment of physical symptoms or counseling services.

How can you tell if your identity was stolen? It can take up to three months to determine whether you are a victim of identity theft. Persistent monitoring of your accounts and personal information is essential. Many people sign up for an identity theft protection product.

To report identity theft or fraud, contact the Blackhawk Police Department at 925-646-2441 for additional information or help.

If you have an interest in forming a Neighborhood Watch program in your area, contact me at “aaron.barger@yahoo.com”. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Prevention Unit, can schedule an orientation meeting. Ask for Christina Lind- Winters at 925-313-2682.