Identity Theft

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation! It is best defined as the illegal possession or use of your personal information to obtain credit, goods or services, work, benefits, access your existing accounts or even commit crimes using your name.

If you are a Hayward resident or work in Hayward and become a victim of identity theft, make your preliminary report with the Hayward Police Department and your case will be forwarded to and investigated by the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. Please visit the following links for resources to help protect yourself from ID Theft or recover your good name once you have become a victim.

If you live or work in the City of Hayward and believe that you are the victim of identity theft, there is also now a FREE SERVICE that will provide advice and support to help you get through it.

This unique service is a partnership between the City of Hayward Police Department and the Identity Theft Council, a non-profit group of identity theft and security experts who are volunteering their time to provide FREE assistance to identity theft victims locally.

To speak to a Counselor by phone, call 1(888) 400-5530, or you can email them at hayward@identitytheftcouncil.org. Please visit the Identity Theft Council website.

DON’T BECOME A VICTIM! 

Instructions for Identity Theft Victims

 ID Theft Report (English)

 ID Theft Report (Spanish)

IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION

Use the attached resources to help protect yourself from the fastest growing crime in the United States.

INCOME TAX FRAUD

Income tax fraud is one of the fastest growing types of Identity Theft and the most difficult to prevent. It cannot be detected by a fraud alert, credit freeze or by monitoring your other existing accounts. The only way to prevent income tax fraud is by making sure you file your taxes before anyone else can. If you are already the victim of identity theft or believe your information has been compromised you may also file an affidavit with the IRS. Once filed, the IRS attaches a password to your social security number, which is sent to you prior to tax time and is required to file your taxes. Unfortunately the Franchise Tax Board does not yet offer the same option.

If someone has filed a tax return using your personal information or you receive a notice of back taxes owed do to someone having worked using your personal information….contact the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board, in addition to the steps already listed above. Do not assume that it is only your taxes that are affected.

ID Theft Affidavit
IRS Tax Return Waiver Form

IRS: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf
Franchise Tax Board: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/scams/identity-theft.html

INTERNET CRIMES AND COMPLAINTS:

Unless you have suffered a financial loss and a police report is required for insurance purposes, report all Internet Crimes or suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. www.IC3.gov. The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National White Collar Crime Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.

OTHER RESOURCES: