California had a total of 43,892 identity theft complaints in 2007 and has 15 cities that are listed for a large number of reported identity theft crimes.
Bakersfield was ranked 14th among those 15 with 1,436 total identity theft complaints.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are 45,175 victims who reported thefts from California, with 125 victims per 10,000 people, ranking California third.
Identity theft, or using personal identifying information without authorization for criminal reasons, is a felony in the state of California, according to Penal Code section 530.5. For the investigation and prosecution of an identity-theft criminal, California has five operating regional Hi-Tech Crimes Task Forces.
The majority of the complaints were received from people between the ages of 18-29. Statistics show that it is easier for the criminals to pretend to be an age closer to their group. Tanya Frazier, a student at Bakersfield College, said that someone stole her identity.
“They had my identification card and my social security card,” she said. “They took my checks and cashed them.”
When asked how the situation was handled, she replied, “The police don’t care. They aren’t doing anything about it. I’m still waiting.”
Identity theft has been on the rise the last couple of years. With new technology, it is becoming increasingly easier for criminals to access consumers’ personal information. The Better Business Bureau in Central California wants citizens to know how to protect themselves from identity theft. Some suggestions are to shred old bills and financial statements with important information and handle credit cards with care while out in public.
Doug Broten, an associate of the BBB, said, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with politely inquiring why the information is needed and where will it be stored.”
Broten also wants to inform consumers about the many ways that can help minimize the probability of theft.
“Consumers have the right to know why their information will be handled, and ‘just because’ is not a good or sufficient answer,” said Broten.
The BBB offers consumers advice to prevent the chance for thefts. Personal information should never be given out to someone unfamiliar, and any requests including those from schools, employers, and banks should be questioned regarding the utilization of the information.