Identity Theft

You have the right to be free from identity theft and other invasions of your credit privacy. It's more important than ever that your personal data -- especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card numbers, your address and telephone numbers, and other valuable identifying data – stay out of the hands of crooks looking to run up bills on your good name.

Symptoms of an Identity Theft Victim:

unauthorized charges on your credit card or bank accounts
a collection agency contacts you regarding a debt you did not incur
receiving bills from a credit account you did not open
being turned down for a job because of credit information
billing statements don't arrive on time
being turned down for a auto/student loan, mortgage, credit card, or other form of credit due to unauthorized debts on your credit report
accounts you did not authorize appear on your credit report

Identity Theft Victims: Steps to Take

(1) File a police report . This report helps document the crime. If your local police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a “Miscellaneous Incidents” report, or try another jurisdiction, such as your state police, or the township where the identity theft – or attempt – occurred. Also, you can check with your state Attorney General’s office. Contact the national attorneys general office to locate the attorney general offices in your state: www.naag.org

(2) Contact the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) and request that a "fraud alert" be placed on your account and that creditors get permission from you before opening any new accounts. Request the credit reporting agency provide a complete, current copy of your report. We recommend that the report be requested in writing, by mail, not online. The credit bureaus often bury legal waiver clauses in their standard “click” agreement. You should not have to give up legal rights just because you are a crime victim and need a credit report. Communicate with the credit bureaus by mail, not online, where possible.

(3) Contact all of your creditors. Inform them that you have become victim to Identity Theft. Request a review of all new charges on your account. Dispute the charges that you do not recognize.

Once you receive your next statement(s), review them carefully for charges that do not belong to you. WRITE to your creditor and dispute the charges.

(4) Report the ID theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Submit an ID Theft Affidavit and Fraudulent Account Statement. www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

(5) Once you have received a current copy of your credit report, send a BLOCKING LETTER to the credit reporting agency. This letter will inform the credit reporting agency of specific items which are not yours. By sending this letter you are telling the credit reporting agency to block any new charges that come to that account.

(6) Document all calls you make with date, time of day, name of person/agency and details of your conversations. Make copies for your files of all correspondence you send. Keep all correspondence you receive, including statements, agreements and receipts.

Maintain an "Identity Theft: Phone/Dispute/Correspondence Log." You can download a sample log document here.

(7) Keep Copies of all correspondence you send to a police department, credit bureau(s), creditor, debt collector or any agency regarding your Identity Theft. Send your correspondence by Certified Mail, return receipt requested to confirm receipt of your correspondence.