Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 10 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft.

 

Maybe thieves rummaged through your trash, found a bank statement, and misused your checking account. Or, maybe they rented an apartment using your name. Maybe someone got a credit card using your identity and credit history, and bought expensive stereo equipment. The crime takes many forms.

 

And maybe you found out about it months later, when your loan application was rejected or when you noticed charges on your credit card statement that you didn’t make.

 

Identity theft is serious. People whose identities have been stolen can spend hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record.

 

 

In order to have your case of ID theft reported, please fill out the Identity Crime Incident Form as completely as possible and bring it with you to our office. Detectives are available Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Also for your reference, we would like to provide you with a sort of road map for clearing up ID theft problems.

 

 

When identity theft occurs, victims have been arrested for crimes they have not committed. This occurs when thieves give your personal info to police during an arrest and then don't show up for the court date causing a warrant for arrest to be issued in your name.

 

The FBI's National Crime Information Center has developed the ID Theft File, a tool to help law enforcement dfferentiate identity-theft victims from suspects using their information. When an officer runs a person through this system, they can get a hit on your date of birth, Social Security number, driver license number, license plate number, etc. They are then able to view a photograph that was provided by the victim along with a password only the victim would know to ensure the identity of this person. This entry will remain on the system for the next five years.

 

In order for you information to be entered onto this system as a victim, the attached forms must be completed. Provo Police needs to have a signed Identity File Theft Consent form signed by you giving us permission to have this information added to the National Crime Information Center. In addition, please complete an Identity Theft NCIC Entry Request form so that we have your correct information to enter onto the system. We are also able to enter a photograph and five other identifying items that would help an officer identify you. These could be photographs of any scars, marks, or tattoos you may have. A copy of your signature could also be entered for comparison.

 

Along with this information, you will need to think of a password that only you would know to be entered onto the system. This needs to be eight characters long and something you would easily remember. When an officer pulls up his hit on the National Crime Information Center system, the officer will ask for this password as an additional means of identifying your identity.

 

This is an additional service our department can offer to victims. This is not a mandatory request, but this is an additional way to prevent future problems. Please take a moment to fill out the attached forms, collect a photograph of yourself, think of a password to use, and turn in this information to you case detective so that this additional tool can be used to combat your identity theft.