ID Theft and ID Fraud - General Advice

If you think you may be a victim of ID Theft, it is strongly recommended that you check your credit reports from all 3 national credit bureaus -Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Review your credit report, and if you spot any unusual activity or inquiries not authorized by you.

If you are positive that you are a victim of ID Fraud, complete these three steps as soon as possible:

1. Contact the fraud departments of each of the 3 national credit bureaus, and ask to have a victim's statement report immediately inserted into your credit report alerting all creditors of the problem. (see credit bureau phone numbers below)

2. Contact all creditors to close or change accounts fraudulently opened or accessed.

3. Immediately file a police report and retain a copy of the police report filed. Most creditors will require that you have a police report for documentation of the theft claim.

A lost or stolen wallet or purse is also a gold mine of information for the identity thief. Make sure you take these important steps to protect your identity:

Identity thieves will use victims credit card and checking accounts to establish new accounts in the victims name. That could create an identity crisis that can take months to detect, and may take months to possibly years to unravel the quagmire mess identity theft can cause to the victims of identity theft.

If a wallet is lost or stolen, the Federal Trade Commission recommends that you:

1. File a report with the Police department immediately. Get a copy of the police report in case your bank, credit card company or insurance company needs proof of the crime and that it has been officially reported.

2. Cancel all active credit and charge cards. Get new cards with new account numbers.

3. Report all missing cards to the major credit reporting agencies:

Equifax Consumer Fraud Assistance Dept. (800) 525-6285

TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Dept. (800) 680-7289

Experian Consumer Fraud Assistance Dept. (888) 397-3742)

4. Ask all creditors to flag your accounts and add a "victim's statement" to your credit file.

5. Report the theft/loss  to your bank. Cancel your current checking and savings accounts and open new ones. Stop payments on all outstanding checks still pending to ensure no checks will be honored from your stolen account.

6. Immediately get a new ATM card, account number and PIN or password.

7. Call local utility companies, including your phone company. Tell them that someone may attempt to gain new service using your stolen identification.

8. Report your missing driver’s license to the department of motor vehicles. Get attempt to get a new number that is NOT your social security number.

9. Change the locks on your home and car(s) if your keys were taken as well. Don't give identity thieves further invitation and access to even more personal information by not protecting your personal property.

10. Fill Out An Identity Theft Affidavit:
The Federal Trade Commission has developed the Identity Theft Affidavit. If you are disputing fraudulent debts and accounts opened by an identity thief in your name, the ID Theft Affidavit now simplifies and expedites the reporting process for victims. Instead of completing many different forms, victims can now use the ID Theft Affidavit to alert all credit companies where a new credit account has been opened using the victims name and information. The credit company will then investigate the fraud and decide the outcome of the victims claim. The ID Theft Affidavit form is available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf