State of California

The following state government agencies can provide information about any state-specific
identity theft situation and/or help you with any state-specific fraud.

Agency Reasons to Contact Contact Information
California Attorney General State credit/security freeze information www.oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/freeze-your-credit

Phone: (800) 952-5225

CA Secretary of State Contact for questions regarding business identity theft.

Contact regarding fraudulent notarization documents or stolen notary license/stamps.

Contact to enroll in the Safe at Home program for domestic violence.

Website: www.sos.ca.gov/

Phone: (916) 653-6814

Specific Office Contacts: www.sos.ca.gov/administration/contact-information/

CA Department of Corrections Clear up a false jail or prison sentence due to criminal identity theft. Website: www.cdcr.ca.gov/

Phone: (916) 324-7308

 

California Department of Justice

 

Information on obtaining criminal records for clearing a criminal identity theft case.

Obtain an Identity Theft ID card after a criminal identity theft case has been cleared.

Request Criminal Records: oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security

Public Records Request: oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra

CA DMV Fraud Department Issues Driver’s Licenses and vehicle registrations. Report DL/ID Card fraud: (866) 658-5758

Website Information for Identity Fraud

Email: [email protected]

CA Franchise Tax Board (Identity Theft) Contact to clear identity theft involving state taxes Website: www.ftb.ca.gov/online/Fraud_Referral/index.shtml

Identity Theft Hotline: (916) 845-7088

Identity Theft Affidavit:
www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/3552.pdf

Report a Scam: (800) 852-5711

CA Department of Social Services Contact for identity theft situations regarding welfare, food stamps, Medi-Cal and other social services. Website: www.cdss.ca.gov/Contact-Us

Phone: (800) 952-5253

 

Specialty Resources

Resource Reasons to Contact Contact Information
State Licensing Agencies Report a lost/stolen professional license

Report the fraudulent use of a professional license by an impostor

Refer to your professional license.
CA Criminal Identity Theft Registry For victims of criminal identity theft. To help clear their name if future fraud is attempted or occurs. Website: oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/how-to-registry

Phone: (888) 880-0240

CA Safe at Home Offers a free P.O. Box to victims of domestic violence and stalking so that they can maintain their privacy. Website: www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home/

 

Identity Theft Laws

While the ITRC does not give legal advice, we have provided a list of known identity theft laws that may help you.
We suggest that you share this information with an attorney or legal representative if you are going to pursue criminal or civil charges.

Law What it Addresses
California Penal Code 1798.92-97 The main laws regarding identity theft in California.
California Penal Code Section 528 – 39 The laws explaining false impersonation in California.
California Penal Code Section 530.5-6 The right to file a police report of identity theft with your local police department or sheriff’s office, even if the crime was committed elsewhere.
California Penal Code Section 530.8;

Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 609(e) [15 United States Code § 1681g]

The right to copies of documents relating to fraudulent transactions or accounts created using your personal information
California Civil Code Sections 1785.16(k),1785.16.1, 1785.16.3, 1785.203(b);

Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 605B [15 United States Code § 1681c-2].

The right to have information resulting from identity theft removed (blocked) from your credit reporting agency files.
California Penal Code Section 1785.15.3(b) In the state of CA, you can receive up to 12 free credit reports (one per month) with a police report.
California Civil Code Section 1798.11.2 Laws pertaining to freezing a consumer’s credit reports in California.
California Civil Code 1798-.78 A consumers rights regarding personal data
California Civil Code Section 1788.18.  The right to stop debt collection actions related to a debt resulting from identity theft. Before resuming collection, the collector must make a good faith determination that the evidence does not establish that the consumer is not responsible for the debt.
California Civil Code Section 1798.93 The right to bring an action or assert defense against anyone claiming a right to money or property in connection with a transaction resulting from identity theft.  Criminal identity theft victims have additional rights.
California Penal Code Section 530.6 Criminal identity theft victims have the right to an expedited proceeding in Superior Court for getting a judge’s order finding that an individual is factually innocent. The judge may order the deletion, sealing, or labeling of records.
California Penal Code Sections 530.6-530.7 Identity Theft Victim Registry (criminal identity theft victims only)

 

SB 1386 Laws regarding information breaches and how an entity is to proceed in investigating, mitigating, informing potential victims and dispensing restitution if need be.
AB 1298 Medical Information Confidentiality, Security Freeze, Security Breach Notification
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.06, 1785.11.2, 1798.29, 1798. 82Cal. Civ. Code. §§ 1275-1289.5

SB 46AB 1149 (extends coverage to local agencies), AB 1710,  SB 24

Law regarding a consumer’s health and medical information.
§ 17529,   § 17538.45 Laws regarding spam, how to regulate it and how to report it.
SB 641 Fair Debt Buying Practices Act. Covers the selling of debts and the rights of a consumer if they do or do not receive notice of judgement for a debt.

 

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