Identity Theft Salem Oregon

2007-04-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Salem Oregon is the identity theft capitol of the United States. It is also the State Capitol of Oregon. Recent legislation is increasing the penalties for committing identity theft. However, individual protection against this threat is still a choice that everyone must make.

There is a solution. Stay tuned to this blog for more information soon.

Federal Trade Commission on Identity Theft:
Detect, Deter, Defend
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements
Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem
Identity theft is a serious crime. How does it happen?Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do:
1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.
2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56 KB) when disputing new unauthorized accounts. 3. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Get a copy of the report or at the very least, the number of the report, to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.
View or print an easy-to-follow brochure on how to Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. For more in-depth information on recovering from identity theft and help with specific problems, read Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft.

Oregon Statute on Identity Theft
165.800 Identity theft. (1) A person commits the crime of identity theft if the person, with the intent to deceive or to defraud, obtains, possesses, transfers, creates, utters or converts to the person’s own use the personal identification of another person.
(2) Identity theft is a Class C felony.
(3) It is an affirmative defense to violating subsection (1) of this section that the person charged with the offense:
(a) Was under 21 years of age at the time of committing the offense and the person used the personal identification of another person solely for the purpose of purchasing alcohol;
(b) Was under 18 years of age at the time of committing the offense and the person used the personal identification of another person solely for the purpose of purchasing tobacco products; or
(c) Used the personal identification of another person solely for the purpose of misrepresenting the person’s age to gain access to a:
(A) Place the access to which is restricted based on age; or
(B) Benefit based on age.
(4) As used in this section:
(a) “Another person” means a real or imaginary person.
(b) “Personal identification” includes, but is not limited to, any written document or electronic data that does, or purports to, provide information concerning:
(A) A person’s name, address or telephone number;
(B) A person’s driving privileges;
(C) A person’s Social Security number or tax identification number;
(D) A person’s citizenship status or alien identification number;
(E) A person’s employment status, employer or place of employment;
(F) The identification number assigned to a person by a person’s employer;
(G) The maiden name of a person or a person’s mother;
(H) The identifying number of a person’s depository account at a financial institution, as defined in ORS 706.008, or a credit card account;
(I) A person’s signature or a copy of a person’s signature;
(J) A person’s electronic mail name, electronic mail signature, electronic mail address or electronic mail account;
(K) A person’s photograph;
(L) A person’s date of birth; and
(M) A person’s personal identification number. [1999 c.1022 §1; 2001 c.870 §3]

Identity Theft Protection

Identity Theft Salem Oregon