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CC - Item 4F - Identity Theft• • ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL i !M\~kPnH~1 ~J STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: OLIVER CHI, CITY MANAGER -CJQ,.~ DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2008 SUBJECT: IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM SUMIUTARY The Federal Trade Commission established the Red Flag Rules which implements Section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.16C.FR§681.2. These rules were designed to ensure that any "creditor" has sufficient policies and practices in place to help prevent identity theft. The specific language contained the rules specifically mentions government agencies where certain conditions such as loans or the deferral of payment for goods or services. Since the City does offer residential rehabilitation loans through Community Development Block Grant program, it is staff's belief that we do need to adopt a Identity Theft Prevention Program. Staff Recommendation Staff. recommends that policy 40-05 -Identity Theft Prevention Program be adopted. DISCUSSION The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has adopted regulations that require "creditors" holding consumer or other "covered accounts" to develop and implement by November 1, 2008 an identity theft prevention program. Since the City offers programs such as the Down Payment Assistance Program and Home Improvement Loan Program which include the deferral of payment on loans, it has been determined that the City would be considered a credit with covered accounts under the regulations. Staff has been working with the California Joint Power Authority, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Association and several ,surrounding cities to develop a policy that would ensure compliance with the program. The proposed policy will be reviewed on an annual basis by an Identity Theft Committee which will be comprised of the Assistant City Manager of Internal Business, the Director of Finance and the Economic Development Manager to ensure compliance and to evaluate any necessary changes or amendments. Any future amendments to the policy would be brought back the City Council for approval FINANCIAL REVIEW There is to financial impact related to the implementation of this program. APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: D • i City Council Meeting October 28, 2008 Page 2 of 2 LEGAL REVIEW This staff report has been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney. Prepared by: ~ ~~ Matthew E. Hawkesworth Assistant City Manager ATTACHEMENT: Policy 40-05 -Identity Theft Prevention Program • S E~,M `~`~ ~ f ~~ ; ~~'~ ' ~~; , °_~~__~ SUBJECT CITY OF I~OSEIVIEA® Administrative Policy Manual Policy Number: 40-05 Date Established: October 28, 2008 Date Revised: October 28, 2008 City Manager Approval: IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM PURPOSE: To establish guidelines in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's Red Flag's rule. General Policy: The City of Rosemead ("City") developed this Identity Theft Prevention Program ("Program") pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission's Red Flags Rule ("Rule"), which implements Section 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. `16 C. F. R. § 681.2. This Program was developed with oversight and approval of the City Council. After consideration of the size and complexity of the City's operations and account systems, and the nature and scope of the City's activities, the City Council determined that this Program was appropriate for the City of Rosemead, and therefore approved this Program on October 28, 2008. Provisions: I. PROGRAM PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS A. Fulfilling requirements of the Red Flags Rule Under the Red Flag Rule, every financial institution and creditor is required to establish an "Identity Theft Prevention Program" tailored to its size, complexity and the nature of its operation. Each program must contain reasonable policies and procedures to: 1. Identify relevant Red Flags for new and existing covered accounts and incorporate those Red Flags into the Program; 2. Detect Red Flags that have been incorporated into the Program; 3. Respond appropriately to any Red Flags that are detected to prevent and mitigate Identity Theft; and 4. Ensure the Program is updated periodically, to reflect changes in risks to customers or to the safety and soundness of the creditor from Identity Theft. B. Red Flags Rule definitions used in this Program The Red Flags Rule defines "Identity Theft" as "fraud committed using the identifying information of another person" and a "Red Flag" as a pattern, practice, or specific activity that indicates the possible existence of Identity Theft. According to the Rule, a municipality is a creditor subject to the Rule requirements. The Rule defines creditors "to include finance companies, automobile dealers, mortgage brokers, utility companies, and telecommunications companies. Where non-profit and government entities defer payment for goods or services, they, too, are to be considered creditors." Page 1 of 6 Pa e 2 of 6 ~ • 9 Policy 40-05 Identity Theft Prevention Program All the City's accounts that are individual loan accounts held by residents of the City whether residential, commercial or industrial are covered by the Rule. Under the Rule, a "covered account" is: Any account the City offers or maintains primarily for personal, family or household purposes, that involves multiple payments or transactions or the deferral of payments; and 2. Any other account the City offers or maintains for which there is a reasonably foreseeable risk to customers or to the safety and soundness of the City from Identity Theft. "Identifying information" is defined under the Rule as "any name or number that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific person," including: name, address, telephone number, social security number, date of birth, government issued driver's license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number, unique electronic identification number, computer's Internet Protocol address, or routing code. II. IDENTIFICATION OF RED FLAGS. In order to identify relevant Red Flags, the City considers the types of accounts that it offers and maintains, the methods it provides to open its accounts, the methods it provides to access its accounts, and its previous experiences with Identity Theft. The City identifies the following red flags, in each of the listed categories: A. Notifications and Warnings From Credit Reporting Agencies Red Flags 1) Report of fraud accompanying a credit report; 2) Notice or report from a credit agency of a credit freeze on a customer or applicant; 3) Notice or report from a credit agency of an active duty alert for an applicant; and 4) Indication from a credit report of activity that is inconsistent with a customer's usual pattern or activity. B. Suspicious Documents Red Flags 1. Identification document or card that appears to be forged, altered or inauthentic; 2. Identification document or card on which a person's photograph or physical description is not consistent with the person presenting the document; 3. Other document with information that is not consistent with existing customer information (such as if a person's signature on a check appears forged); and 4: Application for service that appears to have been altered or forged. • • Page 3 of 6 Policy 40-05 , Identity Theft Prevention Program C. Suspicious Personal Identifying Information Red Flags 1. Identifying information presented that is inconsistent with other information the customer provides (example: inconsistent birth dates); 2. Identifying information presented that is inconsistent with other sources of information (for instance, an address not matching an address on a credit report); 3. Identifying information presented that is the same as information shown on other applications that were found to be fraudulent; 4. Identifying information presented that is consistent with fraudulent activity (such as an invalid phone number or fictitious billing address); 5. Social security number presented that is the same as one given by another customer; 6. An address or phone number presented that is the same as that of another person; 7. A person fails to provide complete personal identifying information on an application when reminded to do so (however, by law social security numbers must not be required); and 8. A person's identifying information is not consistent with the information that is on file for the customer. D. Suspicious Account Activity or Unusual Use of Account Red Flags 1. Change of address for an account followed by a request to change the account holder's name; 2. Payments stop on an otherwise consistently up-to-date account; 3. Mail sent to the account holder is repeatedly returned as undeliverable; 4. Notice to the City that a customer is not receiving mail sent by the City; 5. Notice to the City that an_ account has unauthorized activity; 6. Breach in the City's computer system security; and 7. Unauthorized access to or use of customer account information. E. Alerts from Others Red Flag 1. Notice to the City from a customer, identity theft victim, law enforcement or other person that it has opened or is maintaining a fraudulent account for a person engaged in Identity Theft. ~ • Page 4 of 6 Policy 40-05 Identity Theft Prevention Program III. DETECTING RED FLAGS. A: New Accounts In order to detect any of the Red Flags identified above associated with the application of a loan, City staff will take the following steps to obtain and verify the identity of the person opening the account: Detect 1. Require certain identifying information such as name, date of birth, residential or business address, principal place of business for an entity, driver's license or other identification; 2. Verify the customer's identity (for instance, review a driver's license or other identification card); 3. Review documentation showing the existence of a business entity; and 4. Independently contact the customer. B. Existing Accounts In order to detect any of the Red Flags identified above for an existing account, City staff will take the following steps to monitor transactions with an account: Detect 1. Verify the identification of customers if they request information (in person, via telephone, via facsimile, via email); 2. Verify the validity of requests to change billing addresses; and, 3. Verify changes in banking information given for billing and payment purposes. IV. PREVENTING AND MITIGATING IDENTITY THEFT In the event City staff detect any identified Red Flags, such personnel shall take one or more of the. following steps, depending on the degree of risk posed by the Red Flag: Prevent and Mitigate 1. Continue to monitor an account for evidence of Identity Theft; 2. Contact the customer; . 3. Change any passwords or other security devices that permit access to accounts; 4. Not open a new account; 5. Notify the Program Administrator for determination of the appropriate step(s) to take; 6. Notify law enforcement; or 7. Determine that no response is warranted under the particular circumstances. Page 5 of 6 - Policy 40-05 Identity Theft Prevention Program - Protect customer iclentifying information In order to further prevent the likelihood of identity theft occurring with respect to City accounts, the City will take the following steps with respect to its internal operating procedures to protect customer. identifying information: 1. Ensure that its website is secure or provide clear notice that the website is not secure; 2. Ensure complete and secure destruction of paper documents and computer files containing customer information; 3. Ensure that office computers are password protected and that computer screens lock after a set period of time; 4. Keep offices clear of papers containing customer information; ` 5. Ensure computer virus protection is up to date; and - 6. Require and keep only the kinds of customer information that are necessary for city purposes. . V. PROGRAM UPDATES This Program will be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changes in risks to customers and the soundness of the City from Identity Theft. At least anually, the Program Administrator will .consider the City's experiences with Identity Theft situation, changes in Identity Theft methods, changes in Identity Theft detection and prevention methods, changes in types of accounts the City maintains and changes in the City's business arrangements with other entities. After considering these factors, the Program Administrator will determine whether changes to the Program, including the listing of Red Flags, are warranted. If warranted, the Program Administrator will ,update the Program or present the City Council with his or her recommended changes and the City Council will make a determination of whether to accept, modify or reject those changes to the Program. VI. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. A. Oversight Responsibility for developing, implementing and updating this Program lies with an Identity Theft- Committee for the City. The Committee is headed. by a Program Administrator` who may be the designated risk management officer of the City or his or her appointee. Two or more other individuals appointed by the Program Administrator comprise the remainder of the committee membership. The Program Administrator will be responsible for the Program administration, for ensuring appropriate training of City staff on the Program, for reviewing any staff reports regarding the detection of Red Flags and the steps for preventing and mitigating Identity Theft, determining. which steps of prevention and mitigation should be taken in particular circumstances and considering periodic changes to the Program. Page 6 of 6 Policy 40-05 Identity Theft Prevention Program B. Staff Training and Reports City staff responsible for implementing the Program shall be trained either by or under the direction of the Program Administrator in the detection of Red Flags, and the responsive steps to be taken when a Red Flag is detected. (The Cityy may include in its Program how often training is to occur. The Program may also require staff to provide reports to the Program Administrator on incidents of Identity Theft, the City's compliance with the Program and the effectiveness of the Program.) C. Service Provider Arrangements In the event the City engages\a service provider to perform an activity in connection with one or more accounts, the City will take the following steps to ensure the service provider performs its activity in accordance with reasonable policies and procedures designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate the risk of Identity Theft. 1. Require; by contract, that service providers have such policies and procedures in place; and 2. Require, by contract, that service providers review the City's Program and report any Red Flags to the Program Administrator. D. Specific Program Elements and Confidentiality For the effectiveness of Identity Theft prevention Programs, the Red Flag Rule envisions a degree of confidentiality regarding the City's specific practices relating to Identity Theft detection, prevention and mitigation. Therefore, under this Program, knowledge of such specific practices are to be limited to the Identity Theft Committee and those employees who need to know them for purposes of preventing Identity Theft. Because this Program is to be adopted by a public body and thus publicly available, it would be counterproductive to list these specific practices here. Therefore, only the Program's general red flag detection, implementation and prevention practices are listed in this document.