Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
5.9 Identity Theft Investigations
5.9.1 Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse (Revised: 2/22/08)
A. ID thieves steal personal information, such as credit card account, Social Security and
driver's license numbers. They are then able to open accounts and run up charges in a
consumer's name. Or, they may use the personal information to charge goods and
services to a consumer's existing accounts. In other cases, they may seek employment or
even be arrested while using the victim's name. The harm to a consumer's credit and daily
life can be devastating. Victims of ID theft often have trouble getting new credit cards or
loans because of the damage to their credit ratings. According to the ID Theft Data
Clearinghouse, the most common types of i dentity theft are:
1. Fraudulently using or opening a credit card account
2. Fraudulently opening telecommunications or utility accounts
3. Passing bad checks or opening a new bank account
4. Getting loans in another person's name
5. Working in another person's name.
B. The Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse is an essential tool for law enforcement. As the
nation's repository for identity theft complaints, the Clearinghouse offers law
enforcement officers:
1. Access to the nation's on ly centralized database of identity theft complaints
2. Information on trends in identity theft
3. An opportunity to work with other law enforcement agencies and appropriate
private organizations from their own desktop computer.
C. The Identity Theft Da ta Clearinghouse is part of Consumer Sentinel, an online cybertool
and fraud complaint database used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement
agencies in the U.S. and abroad. To access the Clearinghouse, contact the Consumer
Sentinel project team at 1-877-701-9595. The Federal Trade Commission manages and
maintains the Clearinghouse and Consumer Sentinel.