What Do I Do If I'm A Victim Of Identity Theft?
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do
Contact the fraud department of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a "fraud alert" on your credit file as well as a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. 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 be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
Contact the fraud department of any of the three major major credit bureaus:
Equifax - www.equifax.com
Experian - www.experian.com
Trans Union - www.transunion.com
When you contact the credit bureau's fraud department, tell them that you're an identity theft victim. Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file as well as a victim's statement.
At the same time you should order copies of your credit reports. By law Credit Bureaus must give you a free copy of your report if it is inaccurate because of fraud, and you request it in writing. Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts.
Also, check the section of your report that lists "inquiries." Where "inquiries" appear from the company(ies) that opened the fraudulent account(s), request that these "inquiries" be removed from your report. In a few months, you should order another copy of your report just to make sure that your changes and corrections have been entered and also to make sure that no more fraudulent accounts or other activities have occurred.
Most victims can get accounts closed and debts dismissed by completing the creditor's fraud paperwork, or the ID Theft Affidavit, and including a copy of a police report.
Insist on a letter from the creditor stating that they have closed the disputed accounts and have discharged you of the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best defense if errors reappear or your personal information gets re circulated. This letter is also the best document to give credit bureaus and debt collectors if your police report and ID Theft Affidavit aren't enough to resolve your problems with them.
Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened without your knowledge.
Closing Credit Accounts: Credit accounts include all accounts with banks, credit card companies and other lenders, and phone companies, utilities, internet and other service providers. If you are closing your existing accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers and passwords when you open new accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. Stopping Checks: If your checks have been stolen or misused, stop payment and ask your bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business. While no federal law limits your losses if someone steals your checks and forges your signature state law may protect you
Most states hold the bank responsible for losses from a forged check. At the same time, however, most states require you to take reasonable care of your account. For example, you may be held responsible for a forgery if you fail to notify the bank in a timely manner that a check was lost or stolen. Contact your bank or the state banking or consumer protection agency for more information.
Check Verification Companies
If your own checks are rejected at stores where you shop, contact the check verification company that the merchant uses. You can also call these companies (listed below) to report fraudulent use of your checks, and to find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name (because you've had calls about checks you didn't write or entries on your account you that you didn't initiate) or you've had checks stolen or bank accounts fraudulently set up in your name:
Follow up all calls in writing. End your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep copies for your files
You may also want to contact the following agencies for certain circumstances:
· Postal Inspection Service: If you suspect that an identity thief has used the mail to commit fraud with your identity. 1-207-871-8546 or 1-207-871-8587
· Social security Administration: If you suspect that your Social Security Number is being used fraudulently. 1-800-269-0271
· Internal Revenue Service: If you suspect the improper use of your identity in connection with tax violations. 1-800-829-0433
· US Secret Service: If you suspect you have been the victim of a fraud ring or if your case involves financial fraud with a high dollar amount. 1-207-780-3493
File a police report with your local police or the community where the identity theft took place. Make sure you get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime. Local authorities may tell you that they can't take a report. Stress the importance of a police report; many creditors require one to resolve your dispute. Also remind them that under their voluntary "Police Report Initiative," credit bureaus will automatically block the fraudulent accounts and bad debts from appearing on your credit report, but only if you can give them a copy of the police report. If you can't get the local police to take a report, try your county police. If that doesn't work, try your state police. If you are told that identity theft is not a crime under your state law, ask to file a Miscellaneous Incident Report instead.
