The Yolo County Sheriff’s Department is dedicated to the community it serves. Sheriff Edward G. Prieto requests your attention to this page whenever there is an alert which may require your awareness or action.

You are always welcome to review recent and past press releases in our Press Room and to review our latest bulletin:

Press Room

Bulletin

BULLETIN:

Identity Theft is on the Rise -

Offenders will steal another’s personal information and use it to commit fraud and other criminal acts. Sheriff Prieto would like to offer the public some tips to help protect them from this serious crime.

•Be very careful to whom you give your personal information, such as your mother’s maiden name and your social security number. Then ask for it to be kept confidential. Inquire into how it will be used and with whom it will be shared. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible. Do not store your social security card in your wallet.

• Never provide any personal bank account or credit card information to anyone who contacts you through a telephone solicitation. Instead, ask the caller to mail information so that you can further research the company and their products and services.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Keep a list of all credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, and the customer service phone numbers in a secure place so that you can quickly contact your creditors in case your cards are lost or stolen.

• Shred all ATM and bank receipts, old insurance forms, bank checks, expired credit cards, and any other papers that include personal information, identification, and account numbers about you. This includes pre-approved credit card solicitations! Thieves often times search through your garbage to find these forms and information and use it to apply for credit in your name.

• Minimize the number of credit cards and other items with personal information printed on them that you carry. Cancel all inactive accounts. Even though you do not use them, those accounts appear on your credit report which can be used by thieves.

• Do not leave envelopes containing your checks in your mailbox, unless it is secured. It is best to mail bills and other sensitive items at the post office.

• When creating passwords or pins, do not use the last four digits of your social security number, your birth date, middle name, mother’s maiden name, address or anything else that could easily be discovered by thieves.

• Last but not least, monitor your credit card statements regularly and review a copy of your credit report at least once a year to best safeguard your credit identity.