DA's Office adds identity theft resource center 'live chat' to help crime victims

SAN DIEGO – San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced Sept. 15 that her office is partnering with San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) to provide a live chat box on the DA’s public website in an effort to support victims of identity crimes.

In adding the ability to live chat with the ITRC’s expert advisors to the DA’s website, victims can receive instant assistance on issues related to identity theft, identity fraud and data breaches. The ITRC identity theft advisors will also provide preventative information and customized plans to address identity concerns.

“We are always looking for ways to prevent crime in San Diego County and by adding this service to our website, in partnership with the Identity Theft Resource Center, we are providing real time support to would-be victims of identity theft,” Stephan said. “Identity theft can financially devastate people and businesses, so we want the public to use resources that are available to help them make smart decisions and protect their personal identifying information.”

The ITRC, which was founded in 1999, is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime. It was established to empower and guide consumers, victims, businesses and the government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime.

“We are thrilled to join with the San Diego DA’s office to help identity crime victims in San Diego County,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. “Our partnership allows us to reach more people in San Diego County who need help recovering from or preventing identity theft or fraud. Victims of identity crimes require unique support to recover from having their personal information misused. It is our mission to provide that.”

More than 7% of the ITRC’s total cases in 2022 are from victims who live in California who have sought help about compromised personally identifiable information due to scams, and the misuse of personal information through existing account takeover. The Google Voice scam is the ITRC’s top reported scam from California this year.

When using the chat, ITRC advisors will:

· Ask what happened

· Ask a series of questions to help determine the scope of the problem

· Provide a custom plan of action and steps to take

Advisors will assist victims live in English or Spanish during business hours or through direct follow-up when contacted after hours and on weekends. The ITRC is also committed to providing access to everyone seeking help. Read the accessibility initiative here. Anyone can contact an advisor toll-free by using the ITRC live-chat on https://www.idtheftcenter.org/ or by calling 888-400-5530.

Submitted by the San Diego District Attorney’s Office.