Protect Your Identity
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and then review them. Fraud
alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more credit in your
name. You only need to contact one credit bureau, because federal law requires
that the one you contact must also alert the other credit bureaus.
2. Contact your credit card company. If you entered a credit card number, you
should contact your credit card company to cancel your account and alert them to
the situation. Follow your credit card issuer's instructions for formally
documenting the problem.
3. Contact your bank. If you provided bank account information, you should
contact your bank and ask for instructions about protecting your account.
4. File a Police Report. File a report with your local police or the police
in the community where the identity theft took place. Make a copy of the report
and note the date it was filed in case your credit card company or bank needs
proof of the crime.
5. File an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a database of identity theft cases.
Information submitted to the FTC is used by law enforcement agencies to assist
with investigations.
To file a complaint with the FTC, use one of the following contact options:
Web site: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Fraud Hotline: 202-326-2502
Credit Bureau Contacts
Report the fraud to one of the three credit bureaus listed below. Ask them to
place a "fraud alert" on your file so that no new credit can be granted without
your approval. Make certain to follow-up with a written report after a phone
call. Once you've placed your alert, you are entitled to a free copy of your
credit file from each credit bureau. Look for inquiries from companies you
haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you
can't explain. Verify that information, like your Social Security Number,
addresses, name or initials, and employers are correct. Continue to check your
credit reports periodically to make sure no new fraudulent activity has
occurred.
