Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
5.9 Identity Theft Investigations
5.9.3 ID Theft Consumer Reporting (Revised: 2/22/08)
A. The ID Theft Affidavit makes it easier for consumers to dispute debts resulting from
identity theft. The ID Theft Affidavit is accepted by the three major credit bureaus,
participating credit issuers and other financial institutions. Whenever possible, off icers
should advise the victim of the resources available to them through the internet at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1 -877-ID-THEFT (1 -877-438-4338) for a copy
of the ID Theft Affidavit.
B. The F ederal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection champion:
1. Enforces federal laws that protect consumers
2. Provides free information to help consumers spot and avoid fraud and deception
in the marketplace.
C. The FTC works for the consu mer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business
practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid those practices. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues,
persons should call toll-free 1 -877-FTC-HELP (1 -877-382-4357) or use the online
complaint form. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud -
related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to
hundreds of civil and crimi nal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
D. Victims should contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus
listed below, report the theft, request that a "fraud alert" be placed on their file and ask
that no new credit be granted without their approval.
1. Equifax: 1 -800-525-6285
2. Experian: 1 -888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 1 -800-680-7289.
E. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, victims should contact
the security departments of the appropr iate creditors or financial institutions, close these
accounts and put passwords (not mother's maiden name or Social Security number) on
any new accounts they open.
F. Victims should file a report with the police department with jurisdiction over where the
identity theft took place and get the report number or a copy of the report in case a bank,
credit card company or other entity needs proof of the crime.
G. Victims should call the ID Theft Clearinghouse toll -free at 1 -877-ID-THEFT (1 -877-438-
4338) to report the theft. Counselors will take their complaint and advise them on ways to
manage the credit -related problems that could result from ID theft. The Identity Theft
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
Hotline and the ID Theft Website ( www.consumer.gov/idtheft ) give consumers a place to
report the theft to the federal government and receive helpful information.