Policy Text
Procedure
331Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/06/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentIdentity Theft Procedures - 1Identity Theft Procedures
331.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure will establish guidelines to standardize the reporting of identity theft cases
and to provide additional guidance for officers when investigating and processing identity theft
complaints.
331.2 GENERAL PROCEDURES
The responding officer will initiate a 530.5 PC report and advise the victim on how to obtain a
copy of the report. The purpose of the report is so the victim can begin to repair their credit, to
facilitate appropriate prosecution, and to inform the victim of prevention and resources to minimize
the future damage that can occur from this crime.
(a)Prior to initiating a police report for any of the above Penal Code sections the victim
should produce documents that show evidence of the alleged criminal violation. These
documents can include, but not limited to bank statements, credit card statements,
credit reports, mail or any other documents that may assist with the investigation. If
they received telephonic notice of the crime, at minimum the victim should have the
contact information and account information from the party that made the notification
to them.
(b)A 530.5(a) PC report should contain all known incidents of fraudulent activity (e.g.,
Visa Card account number 1234 5678 9012 3456 applied for in the victim's name).
(c)If the victim has made reports to other agencies (e.g., US Secret Service, US
Post Office, D.M.V., or other law enforcement agencies), those reports should be
referenced in the initial crime report, with case numbers if known.
(d)If a reporting officer believes the victim of an identity theft might be unaware of the
incident, the officer should attempt to contact and inform that victim. The officer should
include any and all personal information for the victim, and if contact was made.
(e)Provide the victim with the Garden Grove Police Department, IDENTITY THEFT
Reference Guide, with case number.
(f)The officer should refer the victim to the Government Web site www.ftc.go v /idtheft for
the booklet on "Take Charge: Fighting Back against Identity Theft" or to the California
Attorney Generals site at: http://caag.state.ca.us/idtheft/index.htm
(g)Identity Theft Prevention presentations will be provided to the community by
department personnel.
331.3 INTERNET/TELEPHONE FRAUD
In the event that an Identity Theft is reported and a fraud committed over the Internet or telephone,
with jurisdiction uncertain, the initiating officer should:
(a)Initiate an Identity Theft report (as detailed above),
(b)Obtain as much information as possible regarding the associated fraud(s),
Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Identity Theft Procedures
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/06/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentIdentity Theft Procedures - 2(c)Document the information,
(d)Forward the report to Investigations for follow up.
331.4 INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
(a)Upon receipt of any identity theft (or related) report, the Property (Beats) Sergeant
shall evaluate the agency’s responsibilities for the case.
(b)If the case has follow up possibilities, the assigned investigator shall investigate all
practical leads that fall within the Department’s jurisdiction.
(c)The investigator shall assess the potential to successfully resolve the case. If
applicable, the investigator should contact other involved agencies and forward reports
when appropriate, or when the successful prosecution is dependent upon the other
agency’s investigation of an associated offense.
(d)Investigations will have the responsibility for the disposition of the case, including the
safe return of all documents to the victim, if appropriate.
331.5 APPLICABLE PENAL CODE SECTIONS
530.5. (a) Every person who willfully obtains personal identifying information, as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 530.55, of another person, and uses that information for any unlawful
purpose, including to obtain, or attempt to obtain, credit, goods, services, real property, or medical
information without the consent of that person, is guilty of a public offense, and upon conviction
therefor, shall be punished by a fine, by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or
by both a fine and imprisonment or by imprisonment in the state prison.
530.55. (a) For purposes of this chapter, "person" means a natural person, living or deceased,
firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability
company, or public entity, or any other legal entity. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "personal
identifying information" means any name, address, telephone number, health insurance number,
taxpayer identification number, school identification number, state or federal driver's license,
or identification number, social security number, place of employment, employee identification
number, professional or occupational number, mother's maiden name, demand deposit account
number, savings account number, checking account number, PIN (personal identification number)
or password, alien registration number, government passport number, date of birth, unique
biometric data including fingerprint, facial scan identifiers, voiceprint, retina or iris image, or other
unique physical representation, unique electronic data including information identification number
assigned to the person, address or routing code, telecommunication identifying information or
access device, information contained in a birth or death certificate, or credit card number of an
individual person, or an equivalent form of identification.
530