Identity Theft

This portion of our website was created to give you information that can help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and to help you if you should become a victim of identity theft. This is not legal advice.

What is "Identity Theft?"

Oregon Law defines identity theft as follows: "A person commits the crime of identity theft if the person, with the intent to defraud, obtains, possesses, transfers, creates, utters or converts to the person's own use the personal identification of another person http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/165.800

What is "Personal Identification?"

Personal identification includes, but is not limited to:

• Your Social Security Card or number
• Your drivers license or number
• Your name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address
• Your account number at a financial institution, or credit card account number or pin
• Your signature, or a copy of it
• Any document which contains any of the above information

How Does an Identity Thief Get My Information?

• They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit and bank cards.
• They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information.
• They complete a "change of address" form to divert your mail to another location.
• They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving".
• The methods of obtaining your personal ID vary, and are only limited by the craftiness of each identity thief.

What Should I Do?

Read on to find out what to do if you become a victim of identity theft.