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One in five people may have their identity stolen this year.
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States.
Some of the offenders live outside the United States and out of the reach of law enforcement.
How can someone steal your identity?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your Name, Social Security Number, Credit Card Number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime.
People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years (and their hard-earned money) cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record.
In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, hosing or cars or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
Some precautions you may take to protect your identity are:
- Check Your Credit Report Annually
- Don't Give Out Personal Information
- Review Your Bills and Statements on a Regular Basis
- Guard Your Mail and Trash From Theft
- Shred Items That Contain Personal Information
- Report Lost or Stolen Checks or Credit Cards Immediately
- Don't Lose Sight of Your Credit or Bank Cards
- Use Unique Pass Codes and PIN Numbers
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| IF YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM... |
- Call your police department or visit the station so an officer can take a report.
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Contact any of the three major credit bureaus and ask that they place a "fraud alert" on your credit report
The three credit bureaus share information so you only need to contact one of them.
Equifax Credit Information Services
(800) 525-6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
www.equifax.com
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Experian Information Systems
(888) 397-3742
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com
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TransUnion
(800) 680-7289
Fraud Victims Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790
www.transunion.com
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Contact the fraud department at each creditor or bank that provided the thief with unauthorized credit, goods or services.
Provide them with the police department's case number.
Keep detailed records of these conversations.
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Contact financial insitutions with which you have open accounts, even if these accounts have not yet been accessed or used farudulently.
Explain the situation to them.
You may need to close these accounts or changing the account numbers.
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Contact the Federal Trade Commission online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft and report the case.
The FTC mains an Identify Theft Data Clearinghouse and provides information to identity theft victims.
Identity Theft Clearing House
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
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Organize and keep a detailed log of all your contacts and make copies of all documents.
Make sure that you document names of people you speak with and the time and date of your conversations.
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A group composed of Credit Grantors, Consumer Advocates and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) developed an ID Theft Affidavit (pdf) to help you report information to many companies using just one standard form.
Use of the form is optional.
While many companies accept this affidavit, others will require that you submit more or different forms.
Contact each company BEFORE sending the affidavit to find out if they accept it.
(Download Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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Check Your Credit Repot Annually (FREE)
(You are allowed one report annually that will not affect your score.)
www.creditreport.com
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Identity Theft Resource Center
(853) 693-7935
www.idtheftcenter.org
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If your Social Security Number was Compromised or Misused:
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Social Security Administration Inspector General
(800) 269-0271 (Fraud Hotline)
www.ssa.gov/oig
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Click On Any Graphic Below for Direct Link
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