Victims and Residents Must Be Alert to Potential Scams. The Identity Theft Resource Center, a San Diego based organization, wishes to alert the public of several potential identity theft-related situations that might arise from the catastrophic fires raging throughout Southern California.  The ITRC recognizes the significant impact these on-going fires have made within the San Diego community-at-large.  Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all friends and neighbors throughout Southern California. 

"Ho, Ho, Holy @!*%,  My Identity's Been Stolen"

The ITRC gets more calls about lost and stolen wallets between November and January than any other time of the year.  This is not really surprising when you consider that it is also the biggest shopping time of the year.  While the economy may be tight, gifts are still being purchased and people flock to the malls for sales and "must have" items.  Crowds and distracted shoppers are ripe for identity theft and stolen credit cards.  ITRC would like to make the following suggestions to make sure that thieves don’t have a shopping spree with your credit.

With all the data breaches being reported, you may be one of more than 30 million plus people this year to receive a breach letter.  Notification letters can be unnerving and frightening. It depends on what is said, how it is phrased and the risk factors involved in the breach.