Report Identity Theft
You have seen the signs and believe that your identity has been stolen. After you work through the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, it is time to take action. You should have your evidence gathered and noted.
Then take these steps:
1. Place a fraud alert with one of the credit reporting agencies.
You only need to request the fraud alert from one agency. The agency you notify will contact the other credit reporting agencies. Be aware that a fraud alert will require creditors to take extra steps before they can extend credit, it will also make it harder for you to get credit. It will not stop forms of identity theft that do not require a credit check, such as phone, wireless or bank account and it will not protect against abuse of existing accounts.
2. If you have not already done so, review your credit reports carefully for any inquiries from companies you have not contacted, accounts you didn’t open and debts you can’t explain. Check the social security number, address, name, initials and employer. If you find inaccurate information ask for it to be removed. Using an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter to explain what you want done will get you the fastest response.
Following is contact information for the credit reporting agencies :
• Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; www.alerts.equifax.com;
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud;
P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 7501
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com;
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Continue to monitor your credit reports, especially for the first year after you discover identity theft. Make sure fraudulent activity does not reappear.
You may want to research the cost and services of a credit monitoring agency.
Immediately contact any accounts if you suspect fraudulent activity, such as unknown purchases or any activity on an unknown new account.
3. Ask to speak with someone in security regarding your account. Once you have discussed the matter with the proper authorities, always document the discussion and send copies of the documentation to the individuals you spoke with and file the original. Always send the copies by certified mail with a request for a returned receipt. Once the company has received your copy, you have supporting information as to when they received it. File this information with the original documentation of the initial phone call. You have protection under the law. The laws vary by the type of fraudulent activity.
In some situations time limits apply, so don’t delay!
Detailed information about each category of identity theft, and your legal protection, is available from the Federal Trade Commission at :
The Dispute Process
When you are discussing fraudulent charges on an account or an account that was opened fraudulently, the following are general guidelines for your dispute process:
• Be sure to speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company.
• Follow up in writing and include copies of supporting documents (always keep the originals).
• Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested so you can document that the company received your letter and when they received it.
• Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
• For fraudulent charges on existing accounts, request the company’s fraud dispute forms. If they don’t have special forms, explain details of the charges completely and send the letter or forms to the “billing inquiries” address, not the payment address.
• For new accounts that have been opened fraudulently, you can file a dispute with the company, but your best option is to file a police report and provide a copy of the Identity Theft Report to the company. This will give you the greatest protection and require the company to stop reporting the fraudulent information.
1. Use new PINS (Personal Identification Numbers) and passwords. Change them on existing accounts as well. Stay away from easy to identify information like birth date, mother’s maiden name, street name, phone number, social security number, etc.
2. File an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission and keep a copy of the report. You can file a report at :https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
3. File reports with your local police department. If the fraudulent activity took place in a different town, be sure to contact the authorities there, as well. File the report in person, if possible. If you cannot file a report in person, file over the phone or on the internet. You may want to check with your State Attorney General’s office to find out if the law requires police to take reports for identity theft if they are reluctant to do so.If you go to your local police department to file your police report, bring:
• A printed copy of your FTC ID Theft Complaint form,
• A Law Enforcement Cover Letter that explains to police the laws regarding identity theft. You can get a copy of the cover letter at
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/downloads/memorandum.pdf
• Your findings and supporting documents.
Ask the police officer to attach or incorporate the FTC ID Theft Complaint into their police report.
Ask the police officer for a copy of the Identity Theft Report (the police report with your FTC ID Theft Complaint form attached or incorporated), so you can dispute fraudulent accounts and charges created by the identity theft.
If the police officer cannot give you a copy of the official police report, they should be able to sign your complaint and write the police report number in the “Law Enforcement Report” section of the complaint.
4. Use the Identity Theft Report to dispute charges on existing accounts or the opening of new accounts. The FTC has provided cover letters with the necessary information for disputing charges. You may download the forms and modify them for your use to file disputes. You can find the cover letters at:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html