Identity Theft Emergency
by Credit.com
If you think you are a victim of identity theft,
it’s crucial to contact your financial institutions and take control
of the situation immediately. Credit.com shows you exactly what to do if you
suspect that you might be a victim of identity theft:
Step 1: Report – At the very first sign of identity
theft you should call the affected credit card company or
business to report the crime. You can find the correct contact information
on the back of your credit card, on printed statements, online, and by calling
411. Sophisticated identity thieves can work very quickly, so it’s important
that you report the situation right away. Your financial companies will change
your account numbers, refund the charges, and send you new credit cards. After
your call, write down the name of the person you spoke with and make a few
notes about the communication, including the person´s extension or relevant
contact information.
Step 2: Research – Now that you have stopped the initial
crime, take some time to do a little research. You don’t need to become
Sherlock Holmes, but try to investigate the basics of your identity theft
case. Look at the records of the account that was stolen and see where and
when the fraudulent charge was made. Take a minute to check your other accounts
for signs of identity theft. If you spot more damages, report them immediately
to the creditors. See if you can pinpoint how the thief obtained your information.
Step 3: Notify – After you have stopped any fraudulent
use of your accounts, it’s time to contact the credit bureaus to report
the crime. You only need to contact one of the three credit bureaus in
order to have a 90-day fraud alert added to all three of your files. This
alert lets businesses know that you may be a victim of identity theft. The
credit bureau can also help you investigate the case and will send you a copies
of your credit reports so you can look for suspicious changes.
- Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
- Experian
1-888-EXPERIAN
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
- TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
Step 4: Organize – By now you should have a pretty
good idea about what happened. At this point you should create a folder with
records of your communications and details about your case. Fill out an ID
Theft Affidavit using the FTC’s form and keep this in your folder.
This document can help you close unauthorized accounts and request that the
credit bureaus extend your fraud alert for 7 years. You can also file
an identity theft complaint with the FTC online. If your crime goes beyond
basic credit card fraud, you should file a police report with your local station.
Keep a copy of this police report in your folder for future reference.
Step 5: Watch – Even though you have closed your accounts
and stopped the initial identity theft attack, there could continue to be
some issues with your accounts. Watch your accounts and credit reports closely
for signs that the identity thief has used your data again or opened an account
in your name. You may want to sign up for a credit monitoring
service that will instantly notify you of changes to your credit report.
If you spot something suspicious, report it immediately. If you remain careful
about your credit, you should be able to catch and stop any continuing identity
theft before it causes major harm.
Return to Top
|
