Welcome to the Economic Crimes Section webpage.  The unit is staffed by one Sergeant, three Detectives and one Administrative Aide.

The Economic Crimes Section investigates various types of fraud crimes.  Some of these crimes include identity theft, counterfeit and forged checks, counterfeit credit cards, internet scams, embezzlement and lottery scams. 

One Detective is assigned exclusively to investigations involving Real Estate Fraud.  Some schemes that involve real estate fraud include: recording false documents, false financial statements, foreclosure consultant fraud, equity sales fraud and notary fraud.

If you become a victim of fraud, you may walk up to the Inglewood Police Department Information desk to file a police report.  In addition, if you have any documents which will help in the investigation of your case, such as credit card statements, collection letters or copies of checks, please provide those at the time your report is filed.

If you become a victim of identity theft, here are some additional steps you should take to help yourself from being victimized further:

• Contact the three credit reporting bureaus and have a “fraud alert” placed on your credit report.  The three credit reporting bureaus are:

Equifax      (800-525-6285)

Experian    (888-EXPERIAN)

TransUnion (800-680-7289).

• Close any accounts that have been tampered with, or established fraudulently.
• File a police report.
• Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).

There are many informative websites and resources that will help you in protecting your “good name” and reputation.  Trying to repair your credit and identity after becoming a victim can take years and may be very costly.  Listed below are some of the websites to help educate you about guarding against fraud.

www.OnGuardOnline.gov

www.ftc.gov/idtheft

www.idtheft.org                                                         

www.privacy.ca.gov

www.usps.gov/postalinspectors

www.idtheftcenter.org

www.antiphishing.org

www.ifccfbi.gov

www.privacyrights.org                     

www.ssa.gov

www.dca.ca.gov

www.cardcops.com

www.optoutprescreen.com

www.fakechecks.org/index2.html

http://dca.lacounty.gov/