Scott Tolstad of the Escondido Police Department explains different ways senior citizens are scammed out of their money, particularly by thieves who steal identities. It's a valuable lesson for all of us, regardless of age, to know. Scott spoke during the June 7, 2013 Glenner Symposium on Elder Abuse.

1. Identity TheftIdentity Theft
Presented by:Presented by:
InvestigatorInvestigator
Scott TolstadScott Tolstad
Escondido Police Dept.Escondido Police Dept.
Financial Crimes/Fraud UnitFinancial Crimes/Fraud Unit
(760) 839-4971(760) 839-4971
stolstad@escondido.orstolstad@escondido.or
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2. Identity Theft
 Who is targeted?
 How do they get your information?
 What happens after they get it?
 How can I protect myself?

3. Identity Theft/Penal Code
 PC 530.5(a)-Every person who willfully obtains
personal identifying information, as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 530.55, of another person,
and uses that information for any unlawful
purpose, including to obtain, or attempt to obtain,
credit, goods, services, real property, or medical
information without the consent of that person, is
guilty of a public offense, and upon conviction
therefor, shall be punished by a fine, by
imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year,
or by both a fine and imprisonment, or by
imprisonment in the state prison.

4. What Is Personal Identifying
Information?
 Social Security Numbers
 Driver’s license numbers
 Address, phone numbers, date of birth
 Birth Certificate information
 Mother’s maiden name, other family information
 Financial account numbers
 Biometric information
 Medical information

5. Identity Theft: The Classic View
 Identity theft occurs when an imposter gains
access to personal identifying information
and uses it for financial gain
– New lines of credit, loans, and mortgages
– New accounts, checking/debit fraud
– Tenancy and utilities
– Medical billing and identity

6. Identity Theft: The Big Picture
 Identity theft also occurs when an imposter
gains access to personal identifying
information and uses it for:
– Jobs, employment, contracts
– Government accounting issues
– Government support services
– Avoidance of arrest and criminal records
– Medical services

7. Identity Theft

8. How Thieves Obtain Information
 Lost/Stolen wallets
 Mail theft
 Dumpsters
 Shoulder surfing
 Telephone solicitations
 “Phishing” and scams
 Lack of computer security / Internet
 Areas beyond control
 Data breach

9. Skimming
 Primarily aimed at your debit card
 Gasoline retailers
 Restaurants
 General retailers
 Now Taken over by organized crime
 Loaded onto gift/Green Dot Card
 Electronic pickpocketing

10. Hand Held Skimmer

11. Electronic Pickpocketing

12. Prevention/Tips
 Deposit outgoing mail at a Post Office or a
blue USPS collection box, or give it directly
to your letter carrier.
 Shred unwanted documents that contain
personal information.
 Review your credit report quarterly.
 NEVER give personal information over the
phone or the internet unless you initiated the
contact. Phone spoofing.

13. Prevention/Tips
 Report lost/stolen cards to issuer ASAP.
 DON’T carry your SSN card.
 Destroy credit card receipts ( some will have
your entire credit card number on it).
 Keep track of monthly financial statements.
 Contact the company if you don’t receive
your monthly statement.

14. PC 530.8/Victim Rights
 In a nutshell, you are entitled to a copy of the
application the suspect used. If the company
refuses to turn over information, they can be
civilly fined up to $100 a day for
noncompliance.

15. Penal Code/Who takes your case?
 PC 530.6(a)- A person who has learned or reasonably
suspects that his or her personal identifying information
has been unlawfully used by another, as described in
subdivision (a) of Section 530.5, may initiate a law
enforcement investigation by contacting the local law
enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over his or
her actual residence or place of business, which shall
take a police report of the matter, provide the complainant
with a copy of that report, and begin an investigation of
the facts. If the suspected crime was committed in a
different jurisdiction, the local law enforcement agency
may refer the matter to the law enforcement agency
where the suspected crime was committed.

16. Fraud Alert/Credit Freezes
 Experian-888 397-3742, www.experian.com
 Transunion-800 680-7289,
www.transunion.com
 Equifax-800 525-6285, www.equifax.com
 Numbers to use to place fraud alert-
2,2,3,2,1, hold, 2, enter info, 2 for phone
number or 1 not to enter phone number,
obtain confirmation number.

17. Work At Home Scam
 International company is looking for part time
at home employers within the whole territory
of the United States, Canada, Australia and
United Kingdom. You can get over 3000
USD monthly which highly depends on your
results.
 We are looking people at the age of 18 to 85
for rather easy operations on processing of
the incoming tasks and performance of
simple management assignments. You don't

18. Nigerian Scams
Mystery Shopper
Overpayment Scam
Romance Scam
Lottery Scam

19. Check Fraud
 Fictitious check– no such account exists -
wrong routing number, wrong bank, account
holder doesn’t exist
 Fraudulent Check – real account - account
number, account holder exists
 Reproduced check
 Stolen check – Actual check just stolen and
usually washed

20. Mortgage Scams
 FICO score sites
 Loan modification
 Foreclosure prevention
 Foreclosure prevention products
 Brokers

21. ATM Skimming Devices

22. ATM Card Skimmer

23. ATM Skimmer

24. Card Skimmer

25. Card Skimmer

26. Card Skimmer

27. Pinhole Camera

28. Camera in FasciaWhat do PIN capturing devices
look like?
How about now ?
Removal of fitted device from fascia- the additional part can now be
clearly seen.

29. Camera in Fascia

30. Pinhole Camera

31. Pinhole Camera

32. Keypad

33. Keypad