Identity Fraud: What to Do If You Are a Victim

If you think that you are a victim of identity fraud, it is essential that you act quickly. You should keep a listing of your efforts to protect yourself; such information may help you later on when proving that you are not responsible for false debts. It is suggested that you

• note all conversations with authorities, creditors, banks, and agencies
• send all correspondence by registered mail
• maintain copies of all documents and letters
• note the time you have spent to clear your identity

What You Need to Do

• Contact the police. Report the crime to all police and sheriff's departments with jurisdiction in your case. Credit card companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to convince them of your innocence, and if they don't believe you, they may hold you responsible for bounced checks, charges made in your name, etc. If you can get it, it is an important piece of documentation.

  Provide the authorities with as much documented evidence as possible; also obtain a copy of your police report. Be sure to note the direct phone number of the official who is taking the report/handling your case to make it easier for creditors/banks to carry out their own investigation.

  The FTC also has an on-line form you can fill out to report your identity theft. You can also call toll-free: 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338).

• Get your credit report. Usually it is difficult to obtain a mortgage or car loan when trying to use someone else's identity, so identity thieves focus on gaining credit cards. Obtain your credit report immediately to make sure no one has opened up new accounts in your name. However, remember that new accounts may not show up for six months or more, so check frequently for the first year. The report costs under $10.

• Put a fraud alert on your credit report. Contact the three credit reporting agencies (CRAs) listed below and request that your account be flagged with a fraud alert. Fraud alerts remain on your credit report for two years and will not allow anyone (including you) to open an account unless there is additional verification.

  Experian (formerly TRW)
  Report fraud: (888) EXPERIAN, (888) 397-3742.
  By Fax: (800) 301-7196.
  Or write: P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013

  Equifax
  Report fraud: (800) 525-6285
  Or write: P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374

  Trans Union
  Report fraud: (800) 680-7289.
  Or write: P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.

• If your credit cards have been stolen, call your creditors. Act quickly to prevent as much responsibility for fraudulent charges as possible. Call your creditors on the phone and follow up your call with the facts in writing. Most creditors will issue replacement cards with new account numbers for your own accounts that have been used fraudulently with no trouble if you act immediately. If fraudulent charges have been made to your accounts, you will be responsible for no more than $50. It is important to ask that old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer's request." "Card lost or stolen,” when reported to credit bureaus, can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss. Finally, carefully check your mail and credit card bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity.

• If your checks have been stolen, notify your banks. If your checks have been stolen or you have had bank accounts set up fraudulently, close your accounts immediately. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of although this can be costly ($15/check or more). Do not use your mother’s maiden name as your secret password as this is easy information for a thief to obtain. Also report your stolen checks to any of the following check verification companies your bank uses. Do not rely on them to do this.

  CheckRite, (800) 766-2748
  ChexSystems, (800) 428-9623 (closed checking accounts)
  CrossCheck, (800) 552-1900
  Equifax, (800) 437-5120
  National Processing Co. (NPC), (800) 526-5380
  SCAN, (800) 262-7771
  TeleCheck, (800) 710-9898

• If your ATM card has been stolen, order a new one. Report a stolen ATM or debit card immediately. Cancel the card and get a different one with a different PIN and different password. When opening new accounts, insist on password-only access. Common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security number or your birth date should not be used.

• If a fraudulent change of address has been filed, notify the local Postal Inspector. Find out where fraudulent credit cards were sent, and notify the local Postmaster for the fraudulent address to forward all mail in your name to your own address.

• If your Social Security Number has been misused, call the Social Security Administration (SSA). You might want to change your number. Due to the fact that many people try to avoid their bad credit by getting a new SSN, the SSA will only change your number if you fit their fraud victim criteria. There is also the possibility that someone is using your SSN number for employment in order to escape paying taxes. To make sure that this is not happening, order a copy of your Earnings and Benefits Statement and check it for accuracy.

• If phone charges have been made in your name, cancel your account. Then open a new one. Provide a password which must be used any time the account is changed.

• If your Drivers License Number has been misused, you might need to change your driver’s license number. Call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if another license was issued in your name, and put a fraud alert on your license. Request a new number, and fill out the DMV's complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.