What Should I Do If My Identity Is Stolen?
Identity theft, using another's personal information to commit fraud, is the nation's fastest growing crime according to FBI statistics. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that millions of Americans become victims of identity theft every year with combined losses to businesses, financial institutions, and consumer victims in the billions of dollars.1
If you suspect that your identity has been stolen, take steps to protect yourself as quickly as possible.
Protect Your Credit
The information below was gathered by the University of Kansas (http://www.privacy.ku.edu/idtheft/).
Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus in the United States (listed below). If you have ever applied for credit in the United States, they have credit information about you in their files.
- Request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file.
- Request that information be entered in your account telling potential creditors that "pre-approved" credit applications no longer be sent to your name.
- Ask for a statement in your file that tells all creditors to call you before opening any new accounts or changing any existing accounts.
Close or suspend any accounts you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Also, check your credit reports with these credit bureaus on an annual basis.
- TransUnion
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fax: 714-447-6034 - Equifax Credit Information Services
www.equifax.com
Consumer Fraud Division
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348
Phone: 800-525-6285 - Experian
www.experian.com
Experian's National Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 1017
Allen, TX 75013
Phone: 888-397-3742
Protect Your Social Security Number
If you believe your Social Security Number (SSN) has been used illegally, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA), and call the SSA Fraud Hotline at 1.800.269.0271. You should also periodically contact the SSA at 1.800.772.1213 to verify the accuracy of the earnings reported on your SSN and request a copy of your Social Security Statement. Additionally, these other SSA resources are available online:
- SSA Fraud Hotline for Reporting Fraud
- Social Security: Your Number and Card (SSA Pub. No. 05-10002)
- When Someone Misuses Your Number (SSA Pub. No. 05-10064)
File an Identity Theft Complaint
File a complaint with the FTC or call the Identity Theft Hotline at 1.877.IDTHEFT (438-4338) or by direct dial at 202.326.2502. You can also visit the FTC web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft for more information to help you guard against and recover from identity theft. You may also write to the FTC at:
- Identity Theft Clearinghouse
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Related Web Sites
Below are additional links where you can find valuable information on protecting yourself from identity theft.
- U.S. Dept. of Justice - Identity Theft and Fraud - information about identity theft from the US DOJ Fraud Section.
- Federal Trade Commission - Facts for Consumers "Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft"
- FTC Consumer Complaint Form - for filing a complaint about a particular company or organization or a specific complaint about unsolicited commercial email (spam).
- econsumer.gov Complaint Form - for filing a complaint about an online transaction involving a foreign company.
- Social Security Administration - Identity Theft - fact sheet on identify theft.
- Consumer.gov - informational web site to help people deal with identity theft.
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Identity Theft Resources - nonprofit organization that advocates consumer privacy.
- Stay Safe On-line - National Cyber Security Alliance web site that provides free and non-technical cyber security and safety resources to consumers, small businesses, and educators.
Reference
1. The FTC report is available at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/09/idtheft.shtm. More reports are available at http://www.first.org/newsroom/globalsecurity/177391.html.