Identity Fraud - Victims Guide

If You’re A Victim of Identity Fraud or ID Fraud - What Can You Do?

1. Contact the fraud departments of the three national credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.

Tell them that you are a victim of identity fraud, and ask to place a "fraud alert" on your credit report. You can also requesst to make a "victim's statement" asking that companies inquiring into your credit, call you before opening new accounts or changing your existing accounts. This can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name.

Equifax Consumer Fraud Assistance Dept. (800) 525-6285
TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Dept. (800) 680-7289
Experian Consumer Fraud Assistance Dept. (888) 397-3742)

2. Get your credit reports from all 3 national credit reporting agencies.

Review your report carefully to make sure there are not additional fraudulent accounts on your credit reports. Also, check the section of your credit report that lists "inquiries." If there are "inquiries" from companies that opened a fraudulent account, request that these "inquiries" be removed from your report. In a few months, order a new copy of your 3-bureau credit report to make sure your corrections are changed, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

3. Contact your creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

That can include credit card companies, phone companies and other utilities, as well as banks and other lenders.

It is important to notify credit card companies in writing because that's the consumer protection procedure the law spells out for resolving errors on credit card billing statements. Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and open new ones with new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords.

4. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Get a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of the crime. Even if the police can't catch the identity thief in your case, having a copy of the police report can help you when dealing with creditors.

5. Other Steps that may be appropriate:

If an identity thief has stolen your mail to get new credit cards, or if an identity thief has filed a false change-of-address form, that's a crime. that you should report to your local postal inspector.

If you have reason to believe that an identity thief accessed your bank account, close the account immediately.

You may also want to contact the major check verification companies to request that they notify retailers not to accept checks from your old account number.
> National Check Fraud Service: 1-843-571-2143
> International Check Services: 1-800-526-5380
> CrossCheck: 1-707-586-0551
> SCAN: 1-800-262-7771
> TeleCheck: 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
> Equifax Check Systems: 1-800-437-5120
> ATM card: If your ATM card has been lost, stolen or otherwise compromised, cancel the card as soon as you can and get another with a new PIN.

If an identity thief has established new phone service in your name or is making unauthorized calls that seem to come from, and/or are billed to you contact your service provider immediately to cancel the account and/or calling card. Open new accounts and choose new PIN numbers.

If you are having trouble getting fraudulent phone charges removed from your account, contact your state Public Utility Commission for local service providers or the Federal Communications Commission for long-distance service providers and cellular providers at www.fcc.gov/ccb/enforce/complaints.html or 1-888-CALL-FCC.

If your name or SSN is being used by an identity thief to get a driver's license or a non-driver's ID card, contact your Department of Motor Vehicles. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask your state to use another number.

If you believe someone is using your SSN to apply for a job or to work, report it to the SSA's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Also call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the accuracy of the earnings reported on your SSN, and to request a copy of your Social Security Statement.

If an identity thief created a criminal record under your name, you may need to hire an attorney to help resolve the problem because the procedures for clearing your name vary by jurisdiction.

If you believe someone has filed for bankruptcy using your name or social security number, write to the U.S. Trustee in the Region where the bankruptcy was filed. A list can be found at www.usdoj.gov/ust.