YOU CAN CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORTS FROM ALL THREE OF THE CREDIT BUREAUS:
EQUIFAX 1-800-685-1111 OR 1-888-525-6285 www.equifax.com
EXPERIAN 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
TRANS UNION 1-800-888-4213 OR 1-800-680-7289 www.tuc.com
( IT COSTS ABOUT $9 PER REPORT IF YOUR NOT AN ID THEFT VICTIM – REPORT GOOD FOR ONLY 90 DAYS, CAN BE EXTENDED, BY YOU IN WRITING, FOR UP TO 7 YEARS.
1. GUARD PERSONAL INFORMATION. HAVE ONLY MINIMUM INFORMATION PREPRINTED ON CHECKS.
2. DESTROY ALL PERSONAL PAPERS, SHREDDING ANY WITH SENSITIVE INFORMATION BEFORE PUTTING IN TRASH.
3. REDUCE THE SHARING OFYOUR FINANCIAL DATA BY “OPTING OUT” OF ALL PROGRAMS THAT PERMIT YOUR BANK OR OTHR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO SHARE YOUR DATA WITH OTHER FIRMS. CALL 1-888-567-8688 TO OPT OUT.
IF YOU FIND SOMEONE HAS USED YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, CREDIT CARD OR BANK ACCOUNTS DO THE FOLLOWING TO RESTORE YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH.
CALL THE THREE CREDIT-REPORTING AGENCIES LISTED ABOVE. HAVE THEM PUT A FRAUD ALERT ON YOUR FILE AND ASK FOR YOUR LATEST CREDIT REPORT (THEY ARE FREE IF YOU’RE A VICTIM OF ID THEFT). EXAMINE EACH THOROUGHLY.
FILE A POLICE REPORT IMMEDIATELY AND KEEP A COPY TO SHOW CREDITORS WHERE FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN OPENED.
ALSO FILE A REPORT ONLINE AT THE FTC AT www.consumer.gov/idtheft
WHERE YOU CAN GET ID THEFT TIPS, INSTRUCTIONS, AND FORMS THAT HELP RECOVER FROM ID THEFT.
THE AVAILABLE AFFIDAVIT WILL HELP YOU REPORT CRIME TO PROPER AUTHORITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
SEND A REGISTERED LETTER TO ALL CREDITORS WHERE FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN OPENED, INCLUDE THE POLICE REPORT AND AN AFFIDAVIT (SEE ABOVE) NOTIFYING THEM OF THE ID THEFT. ASK FOR A LETTER OF RELEASE TO CLEAN UP THE ACCOUNT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS FRAUDULENT.
THE 4 W’S TO ASK ANY BUSINESS OR PERSON ASKING FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION: WHY ARE YOU COLLECTING THIS INFO? WHO’S GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO IT? WHAT STEPS DO YOU TAKE TO PROTECT IT? WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO DISPOSE OF IT?
OTHER NUMBERS TO CALL:
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 1-800-269-0271 http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 1-877-438-4338 http://www.ftc.gov/privacy
IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCE CENTER 1-858-693-7935 http://www.idtheftcenter.org
PRIVACY RIGHTS CLEARING HOUSE 1-619-298-3396 http://www.privacyrights.org
ONLINE FRAUD DATA BASE MAINTAINED BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION:
http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel
GOVERNMENT ID THEFT WEB PAGE:
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft
U.S. DEPT OF JUSTICE:
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
FBI’S INTERNET FRAUD COMPLAINT CENTER:
http://www.ifccfbi.gov
REPAIR CREDIT REPORT:
http://www.myvesta.org/pubs/topics/CreditReport.htm
FOR A COPY OF FTC’S BOOKLET-“ID THEFT: WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO YOUR GOOD NAME”:
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm
OR CALL 1-888-687-2277 FOR SHORTER VERSION, ASK FOR STOCK # D18052