Schiff to host forum on identity theft

On Monday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) will host a forum on identity theft protection at the L.A. Zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium at 7 p.m. intended to teach constituents how to better protect themselves from fraud and what to do in the event that their personal information is used without their permission.

Representatives from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI, Federal Trade Commission, the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will be on hand to discuss methods of identity protection.

The forum comes in the wake of a massive international telephone scam that recently hit the La Cañada and neighboring communities, in which suspects claiming to represent the IRS fraudulently demand money transfers to correct tax filing discrepancies.

So far, more than 20,000 people nationwide have been targeted by the scheme, which has defrauded Americans of more than $1 million.

“With big data breaches, scams involving persons posing as federal agencies and even pick-pocketing or dumpster-diving, there are more threats facing our personal information than ever before,” Schiff said Wednesday in a release.

“Only by being vigilant and learning the tools to protect against identity theft can we combat this very widespread and destructive crime,” he added.

To RSVP for the Aug. 4 forum, call (818) 450-2900 or email CongressmanSchiff.RSVP@mail.house.gov. Entrance and parking are free for the event.