If You Become a Victim
Even if you've been very careful about keeping your personal information to yourself, an identity thief can strike. If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following four (4) steps right away.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports. Call the toll-free number of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will automatically be notified to place alerts on your credit report, and all three reports will be sent to you free of charge. (See the numbers to call below.)
- Close any accounts that may have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. These accounts can include credit card accounts or checking accounts. If your checks have been stolen or misused, you should contact the check verification companies listed below and ask that retailers not accept your checks.
- File a report with the local police. Keep a copy of the report. You may need it to validate your claims to creditors. If you can't get a copy, at least get the report number.
- File a complaint with the FTC. By sharing your complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement track down identity thieves and stop them.
Important Numbers
Credit Bureaus - Fraud Report Numbers
Equifax - 1-800-525-6285, and write: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian - 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742), and write: PO Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion - 1-800-680-7289, and write: PO Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
For your free annual credit report: go online to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228
Check Verification Companies
TeleChek - 1-800-710-9898
Certegy, Inc. - 1-800-437-5120
International Check Services - 1-800-631-9656
The FTC To file a complaint or to learn more about the FTC's Privacy Policy, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft . If you don't have access to the internet, you can call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or write to: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580
Find out how well you're protected against Identity Theft - take the quiz at idsafety.net |
