Financial Crimes Unit
Investigations and Crime Prevention for:
Fraud
Forging documents or creating false documents to steal funds.
Identity Theft
Using your Personal Identifying Information to open or use your accounts.
Scams
Theft of your funds by trickery or false pretenses.
Embezzlement
Ongoing lengthy schemes to steal from employers.
More Video Resources
Facebook Live on ID Theft
Web Link
Straight To You on Text Scams
Web Link
Email and Text Phishing
Web Link
Utility Scams
Web Link
Quick Links
Identity Theft
Everybody should take constant steps to prevent identity theft. Data breaches occur every day, and international criminals steal Personal Identifying Information to use it for a wide variety of criminal enterprises. It is best to assume that your Information has already been compromised, and be vigilant by taking every precaution available. Credit reporting services are available at no cost through several organizations. Do the research and find a solution that works best for you. Below are recommended monthly habits:
- Check credit reports for new activity. There are free options available including apps for smart phones. Set alerts if available to receive email and/or text message alerts. Lock or freeze your credit every year NOW for FREE by all 3 credit reporting bureaus are: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. (updated September 21, 2018)
- Check your existing accounts at all of your financial institutions for banking services including checking, savings, and credit accounts. Check your account activity for anything you did not approve. Activate any available security alerts and set thresholds that work for your needs. Notify your banks whenever you travel. Limit the use of your accounts to specific activities such as one credit card for online transactions, and select credit cards to be used when travelling. Always establish online accounts, even if you don’t intent to use online banking, so that there is no open door for criminals to access your account.
- Keep Personal Identifying documents in a locked location inside your home. Such documents include passports, Social Security cards, credit cards that you don’t regularly use, check books, vehicle and property titles to name a few examples. The box could be small enough to retrieve in the event of fire. Consider a box that can be hidden and secured to immobile objects so as not to be stolen during a home burglary.
- Avoid using unsecured mailing services. Avoid mailing or receiving checks and banking information in the mail. Consider locations with enhanced security features and live or video monitoring. Never leave any Personal Identifying Information unsecured in your car. Mail theft and thefts from vehicles are common practices among identity thieves.
- Use caution online. International criminals have exploited the Internet to disguise malware and viruses in everything from email messages to advertisements to news articles. Use an encrypted program to store your bank account information, passwords, and security answers. Make your security answers nonsensical such as lyrics to songs that are not featured on your social networking profiles. Backup your data in the event of a ransomware attack or false IT service scam. If a scammer begins to communicate with you online in real time, shut down your system as soon as possible. Wait a few hours before trying to power on offline to clean your system of malware and viruses. Regularly update your anti-virus and operating system software. Be cautious in what information you share on social networking sites and check privacy settings on a regular basis. Never share Personal Identifying Information with or send funds to anybody you haven’t met in person or verified through your own offline research.
- Before inserting or swiping your credit/debit card, check for security. Tug on card readers to make sure a skimming device overlay is not installed, especially at gas pumps. All keypad and card slots should be smooth and in good repair. A jammed ATM or posted repair sign can indicate that the working one has been targeted by criminals. Criminals install overlays, skimmers, and pinhole cameras to steal your magnetic stripe information and PIN. Report any irregularities to the bank or merchant immediately. Non-bank ATM’s such as those inside convenience stores generally don’t have video cameras installed.
If you have already made a Police Report with the Oxnard Police Department:
Reported Crime | Document | Instructions |
---|---|---|
Fraudulent use of your own existing account(s). | 484g Form | Complete the form. Attach color image of your photo ID and Social Security card. Attach copy of police report. Mail/fax/email to your bank/creditor. |
Opening new fraudulent accounts using your Personal Identifying Information. | 530-8 Form | Complete the form. Attach color image of your photo ID and Social Security card. Attach copy of police report. Mail/fax/email to your bank/creditor. |
Using your Social Security Number to work or receive benefits. | F14039 IRS Form | (English) Complete the form. Attach color image of your photo ID and Social Security card. Attach copy of police report. Send the form to the IRS. |
F14039 IRS Form | (Spanish) Complete the form. Attach color image of your photo ID and Social Security card. Attach copy of police report. Send the form to the IRS. | |
CA FTB Form | Complete the form. Attach color image of your photo ID and Social Security card. Attach copy of police report. Send the form to the CA FTB. | |
Printable Resource Sheets – Identity Theft | (Patrol) Fraud Info Handout To Public 2017 | English |
(Patrol) Fraud Info Handout To Public (SP) 2017 | Spanish | |
Printable Resource Sheets – Scams | Scam Prevention Handout to Public | English |
Email questions and supporting documents (MUST include your Report Number) to Detective [email protected].
If your Social Security Number has been used to work or claim benefits:
(There is no need to report to local authorities unless you need a report for tax deduction, insurance, or banking purposes for documentation only.)
- IRS Identity Theft Affidavit Form complete the IRS identity theft affidavit and submit online to IdentityTheft.gov FTC website.
- SSA “my account” to review your Social Security account and report identity theft.
- CA Franchise Tax Board to report to the California Franchise Tax Board.
- EDD to report to the California Employment Development Department.
Resources for Businesses
- FTC Small Business Resources
- Cal ORCA the California Organized Retail Crimes Association.
- SCAM prevention for businesses
- Smart Money the FDIC smart money program for small businesses.
- How To Recognize Counterfeit Bill$
- Report Non-Sufficient Fund (NSF) Checks to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office: Report Forms.
- FBI article on data breach requirements How to report data breach to FBI & IRS.
Educational Resources
September 17, 2018
by
Lisa Lake Consumer Education Specialist, FTCYou get a call saying your electricity or water will be shut off unless you pay a past due bill. You may not think you have a past due bill. But the caller sounds convincing, and you can’t afford to ignore it, especially if you’re running a small business.
Actually, you can’t afford to believe it.
The FTC has been hearing about scammers impersonating utility companies in an effort to get your money. Here are some warning signs of a utility scam:
- If you know you already paid, stop. Even if the caller insists you have a past due bill. That’s a big red flag.
- Never give out your banking information by email or phone.Utility companies don’t demand banking information by email or phone. And they won’t force you to pay by phone as your onlyoption.
- Did the caller demand payment by gift card, cash reload card, wiring money or cryptocurrency? Don’t do it. Legitimate companies don’t demand one specific method of payment. And they don’t generally accept gift cards (like iTunes or Amazon), cash reload cards (like MoneyPak, Vanilla, or Reloadit), or cryptocurrency (like bitcoin).
If you get a call like this, here are some things you can do:
- Concerned that your bill is past due? Contact the utility company directly using the number on your paper bill or on the company’s website. Don’t call any number the caller gave you.
- Never give banking information over the phone unless you place the call to a number you know is legitimate.
- Tell the FTC. Your reports help us fight these scams. And report it to the real utility company. If you already paid, tell the payment provider – such as the wire transfer or gift card company. You may not get your money back, but it’s important to tell them about the scam.
NPR podcasts on Brains and Losses for older adults (added 5-30-19) FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Financial Literacy Quiz (click here to take this quiz or have your older adult relative/friend take it if you suspect they are falling for scams, added 5-30-19)
Starting 9-21-2018, New Law Allows Consumers to Place Free Credit Freezes And Yearlong Fraud Alerts Consumers who are concerned about identity theft or data breaches can freeze their credit and place one-year fraud alerts for free. Under the new Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, consumers in some states – those who previously had to pay fees to freeze their credit – will no longer have to do so.
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, restricts access to a consumer’s credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in the consumer’s name. The new law also allows parents to freeze for free the credit of their children who are under 16, while guardians, conservators, and those with a valid power of attorney can get a free freeze for their dependents.
In addition, the new law extends the duration of a fraud alert on a consumer’s credit report from 90 days to one year. A fraud alert requires businesses that check a consumer’s credit to get the consumer’s approval before opening a new account.
As part of its work to implement the new law, the Federal Trade Commission has updated its IdentityTheft.gov website with credit bureau contact information, making it easier for consumers to take advantage of the new provisions outlined in the law.
To place a credit freeze on their accounts, consumers will need to contact all three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Whether consumers ask for a freeze online or by phone, the credit bureau must put the freeze in place within one business day. When consumers request to lift the freeze by phone or online, the credit bureaus must take that action within one hour. (If consumers make these requests by mail, the agency must place or lift the freeze within three business days.)
To place a fraud alert, consumers need only contact one of the three credit bureaus, which will notify the other two bureaus.
Credit freezes and fraud alerts are two important steps consumers can take to help prevent identity theft. Identity theft was the second biggest category of consumer complaints reported to the FTC in 2017 — making up nearly 14 percent of all the consumer complaints filed last year. Consumers who believe they have been the victim of identity theft can report it and receive a personalized recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Help for financial caregivers
But what about people who can’t manage their finances on their own? The new law lets people with certain legal authority act on someone else’s behalf to freeze and unfreeze their credit file. The new law defines a “protected consumer” as an incapacitated person, someone with an appointed guardian or conservator, or a child under the age of 16.
If you’re acting on behalf of a protected consumer, you must give the credit reporting agencies proof of authority before you can freeze and unfreeze the protected consumer’s credit. Proof of authority includes:
A court order (such as an order naming you guardian or conservator), or A valid power of attorney. To freeze or unfreeze the credit file of a child under 16, you must provide other proof of authority.
You’ll also need to provide proof of your identity, which can be your Social Security card, your birth certificate, or your driver’s license or other government issued identification.
Additional Information
- FBI IC3 the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- FTC the Federal Trade Commission.
- IAFCI the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.
- USSS the Secret Service US Currency information site – how to recognize counterfeit cash.
- VCAAA the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging for Medicare fraud and older adult services & by phone (805)477-7300.
- Smart Money the FDIC smart money programs.
- ID Theft Center a non-profit victim advocacy group.
- Fraud of the Day learn about current fraud and scam trends.
3 Credit Bureaus
- Equifax
- Data Breach to enroll in the Equifax data breach program.
- Experian
- TransUnion
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ for free annual credit report.
Real Estate
To report Real Estate Fraud, report to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office: Report Forms
BEWARE: theft of your down payment via Business Email Compromise
How to Spot a Rental Scam: Scammers use a variety of tactics to get people’s money. Some hijack a real rental listing by changing the email address or other contact information and then placing the altered ad on another site. Others gain access to keys in lock boxes, make copies, and pose as legitimate rental agents. Still others may list a property that’s already leased and then try to collect application fees, security deposits, and even the first month’s rent.
Scammers know that finding the right apartment or vacation rental can be hard work, and a seemingly good deal is hard to pass up. They’ve been known to game some vacation rental websites and bulletin boards. The take-away: when you’re looking for a rental, it’s caveat renter — renter beware.
Hijacked Ads
Some scammers hijack a real rental or real estate listing by changing the email address or other contact information, and placing the modified ad on another site. The altered ad may even use the name of the person who posted the original ad. In other cases, scammers have hijacked the email accounts of property owners on reputable vacation rental websites.
Phantom Rentals
Other rip-off artists make up listings for places that aren’t for rent or don’t exist, and try to lure you in with the promise of low rent, or great amenities. Their goal is to get your money before you find out.
Signs of a Scam
Being savvy when you’re in search of a rental is well worth the effort. Here are some signs you may be dealing with a scam:
They tell you to wire money
This is the surest sign of a scam. There’s never a good reason to wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee, first month’s rent, or vacation rental fee. That’s true even if they send you a contract first. Wiring money is the same as sending cash — once you send it, you have no way to get it back.
They want a security deposit or first month’s rent before you’ve met or signed a lease
It’s never a good idea to send money to someone you’ve never met in person for an apartment you haven’t seen. If you can’t visit an apartment or house yourself, ask someone you trust to go and confirm that it’s for rent, and that it is what was advertised. In addition to setting up a meeting, do a search on the owner and listing. If you find the same ad listed under a different name, that’s a clue it may be a scam.
They say they’re out of the country
But they have a plan to get the keys into your hands. It might involve a lawyer or an “agent” working on their behalf. Some scammers even create fake keys. Don’t send money to them overseas. If you can’t meet in person, see the apartment, or sign a lease before you pay, keep looking. What if the rental itself is overseas? Paying with a credit card or through a reputable vacation rental website with its own payment system are your safest bets.
Tips to help you avoid rental scams:
- Do an online search of the rental company. Enter its name plus words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” If you find bad reviews, you may want to look elsewhere.
- Do an online search of the address. Rental home listings may appear in several places, including rental company websites and online listing services like like Zillow, Trulia or Craigslist. If you see a rental company’s listing on one of those online listing services, do a search of the home’s address to make sure it appears on the rental company’s website. If it doesn’t, it may be a scam.
- Compare prices. Is the rent a lot less than comparable rentals? That could be a red flag.
- Take a tour. Ask for identification. Rental agents should have photo ID badges issued by the company that owns or manages the property. Never pay deposit money until you’ve seen the property inside and outside AND signed a lease – verify all names on the lease before making payment.
- Nothing sketchy yet? Apply through the rental company, licensed real estate professional or listings website. THEY MUST BE LICENSED to take your application.
- Before you sign a lease, look for signs at the rental with the name of the property owner or manager. Call that company before making a deal with anyone. Beware – some scammers even send keys.
- Never pay with cash, wire transfers or gift cards. If anyone tells you to pay this way, it’s a sure sign of a scam. Wiring money is like sending cash — once you send it, you have no way to get it back. As for gift cards, they’re for gifts, NOT for payments.
If you have been a victim, report to the Ventura County DA’s Office and FTC.
Additional Real Estate Fraud Resources: REFAT