What Do You Do If Your Identity is Stolen

Posted on Apr 1, 2013 in Financial and Consumer Issues, OCP

6/18/12 [OCP]

Here’s what to do if your identity is stolen:

  1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file.The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts.As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts on your account. Once the alert is placed, you may order a free copy of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus.
    • Equifax
      1-800-685-1111
      or log on to www.equifax.com
    • Experian
      1-888-397-3742
      or log on to www.experian.com
    • TransUnion
      1-800-680-7289
      or log on to transunion.com
  2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use an ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
    If your checks have been stolen or misused, close the account and ask that the appropriate check verification service be notified.
    You can contact the verification services yourself.

    • TeleCheck
      1-800-710-9898
    • Certegy, Inc.
      1-800-437-5120
  3. REPORT THE CRIME IMMEDIATELY TO POLICE! Call 911. Obtain the police report number and record it for future reference. Obtain a verification letter from the Records Division of the police department. A copy of this letter can be given to creditors when you dispute fraudulent charges
  4. File your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint helps them to learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that they can better assist you. Go online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft.Or call :
    • 1-877-IDTHEFT
    • 1-877-438-4338