Dealing With ID Theft

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IDENTITY THEFT
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT
Do-it-Yourself Guide

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Top Ten Clues
That Someone Has
Stolen Your Information
 You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
 You don’t get your bills or other mail.
 Merchants refuse your checks.
 Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
 You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
 Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
 Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your
benefits limit.
 A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
 The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income
from an employer you don’t work for.
You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do
business or have an account.
For more information: Www.ImproveMyCreditUSA.com or 866-802-3470

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Introduction
You apply for a credit card and are turned down because of a low credit score, yet you know that you’ve always
paid your accounts on time. A debt collector calls to demand payment on a six-month overdue account for a
credit card you have never had. You receive a credit card in the mail that you’ve never applied for.
What’s happening? You could be the victim of identity theft, where an imposter is using your personal information
to obtain credit. Then when the thief does not pay the bills, the company itself or a debt collection company
contacts you to demand payment. As a result, your credit report is likely to contain negative information about
your bill-payment history, and your credit score has probably been lowered considerably, making it difficult or
impossible to obtain new credit yourself.
This guide provides victims of identity theft with instructions on how to regain your financial health and who to
contact for more help. You must act quickly and assertively to minimize the damage.

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5 must do tasks when suffering ID theft
#1. Notify credit bureaus and establish fraud alerts
Immediately report the situation to the fraud department of the three credit reporting companies --
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. When you notify one bureau that you are at risk of being a victim of
identity theft, it will notify the other two for you. Placing the fraud alert means that your file will be flagged
and that creditors are required to call you before extending credit. Consider using your cell phone number
for faster notification.
Consumers may "freeze" their credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. By freezing your credit
reports, you can prevent credit issuers from accessing your credit files except when you give permission.
This effectively prevents thieves from opening up new credit card and loan accounts.
For state-by-state information on security freezes, visit this Consumers Union web page:
www.consumersunion.org/campaigns//learn_more/003484indiv.html
If your identity thief is aggressive and gives no indication of ceasing to use your identity to obtain credit,
consider using the security freeze to reduce access to your credit file. The security freeze is free to victims of
identity theft in most states. Non-victims who wish to activate the security freeze for prevention must pay a
fee in most states. Some states make the security freeze available only to identity theft victims.
Equifax: P.O. Box 740250,
Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241.
Report fraud: Call (888) 766-
0008 and write to address
above.
TDD: (800) 255-0056
Web: www.equifax.com
Experian: PO Box 9532
Allen TX, 75013
Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN
(888-397-3742) and write to address
above.
TDD: Use relay to fraud number
above.
Web: www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion: P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790.
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289 and
write to address above.
TDD: (877) 553-7803
E-mail (fraud victims on-
ly):fvad@transunion.com
Web: www.transunion.com

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#2 Monitor your credit reports.
Be aware that fraud alerts may not entirely prevent new fraudulent accounts from being opened by
the imposter. Credit issuers do not always pay attention to fraud alerts, even though the law now requires
it. That is why we recommend that you check your credit reports again in a few months.
The federal FACTA law enables you to receive a free credit
report per year from each of the three credit bureaus.
(FCRA §612) This is over and above the free reports you
can order when you place fraud alerts on your three credit
reports. Once you have received your free credit reports
as a part of the fraud-alert process, follow up in a few
months by taking advantage of your free FACTA copy. We
recommend that you order your free credit reports by
phone rather than using the online system. Call (877) 322-
8228.
For more on free credit reports, see http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/freereports/
index.shtml andwww.annualcreditreport.com.
For a nominal fee, you can utilize a monthly service that provides activity alerts. If the monthly cost is within
your budget, this is highly recommended over the free report system since you can be alerted immediately
of strange behavior. Visit 3scores3reports.com for a $1 30 day trial.

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#3 Law enforcement
Report the crime to your local police or sheriff's department right away. You might also need to report it to
police department(s) where the crime occurred if it's somewhere other than where you live. Give them as
much documented evidence as possible. Make sure the police report lists the fraudulent accounts . Get a
copy of the report, which is called an "identity theft report" under the FCRA. Keep the phone number of your
investigator handy and give it to creditors and others who require verification of your case. Credit card
companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to verify the crime.
FTC regulations define an "identity theft report" to include a report made to a local, state, or federal law
enforcement agency. If your local police department refuses to file a report and your situation involves
fraudulent use of the U.S. mail, you can obtain an identity theft report from the U.S. Postal Inspector. If your
case involves fraudulent use of a driver's license in your name, you might be able to obtain a report from
your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. The FTC has more information on identity theft reports athttp://
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html
#4 Federal Trade Commission
Report the crime to the FTC. Include your police report number. Although the FTC does not itself investigate
identity theft cases, they share such information with investigators nationwide who are fighting identity
theft.
 Call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: (877) IDTHEFT (877-438-4338)
Or use its online identity theft complaint form:https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
 Or write: FTC Identity Theft Clearinghouse, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20580.
The FTC's uniform fraud affidavit form is available athttp://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/resources/forms/
affidavit.pdf
Visit the Web site for the President’s Identity Theft Task Force for Identity Theft Victims’ Statement of Rights
under federal law: www.idtheft.gov/

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#5 Contact Creditors
If your existing credit or debit accounts have been used fraudulently, report it in writing immediately to the
credit card company.
Request replacement cards with new account numbers. In addition to phoning the credit card company
regarding the fraud, you will need to follow up in writing and will likely be asked to provide a fraud affidavit
or a dispute form. Send the letter to the address given for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending
payments. Carefully monitor your mail and bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report it
immediately. Add secure passwords to all accounts . These should not be your mother's maiden name or any
word that is easily guessed.

Dealing With ID Theft

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