Identity Theft Victim Guide

If you discover you're the victim of identity theft, you need to act immediately. Here's what you need to do to protect yourself.

If you're the victim of identity theft and want to find out what you need to do, you've come to the right place. Our Identity Theft Victim Guide is intended to aid you in resolving identity theft problems and clearing your good name. Repairing your identity can be a long and baffling process. As you reach out to creditors, financial institutions and law enforcement, it's critical to record all actions and conversations that occurred. You may want to use this course of action form to help you retain a record of your progress.

When your identity is taken, it can be changed in a mixture of different ways. As soon as you're aware that your identity has been stolen or used by someone other than yourself, there are a number of fundamental steps you should take.

Step 1 - Report it to the credit companies

Report the occurrence to the fraud division of the three major credit bureaus.

• Ask each one of the credit bureaus to put a "fraud alert" on your credit report.
• Get free copies of your credit reports from all three credit bureaus.
  
  
  • Examine the reports to see if any further false account creation activity has occurred or if any illicit charges have been made to your other accounts.
  
  
• Prior to opening a new account or making changes to any existing accounts in your name, have creditors contact you first by providing them with a victim's statement.

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To order your report: 1-800-685-1111
To report fraud: 1-800-525-6285
TDD: 800-255-0056

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790
Email: fvad@transunion.com
To order your report: 1-800-888-4213
To report fraud: 1-800-680-7289
TDD: 877-553-7803

Experian
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
To order your report: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
To report fraud: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TDD: 800-972-0322

Step 2 - Contact your creditors

Contact the fraud department of each of your creditors:

• Call the fraud divisions for each of your creditors (revolving credit, non revolving credit, utilities, cable, etc.). Have your account information available and ready to go before you call.
• Even if no tampering has occurred, tell each creditor about your stolen identity. Close any accounts you believe have been breached.
• After the completion of your calls, dispute your fraud in writing. There's a standardized form provided by the Federal Trade Commission titled "Identity Theft Affidavit" that can be used to inform your creditors of fraudulent new accounts that have been opened in your name. If your creditor won't accept this form, ask them to send a copy of theirs to you for completion. Send in any supporting documentation that supports your claim.
• Document and file information on all telephone conversations and written correspondence together.
• Provided by the Federal Trade Commission, their brochure "Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft" includes sample dispute letters as well as additional data on solving credit problems.

Step 3 - Contact your bank

Make contact with your bank or financial institution

• Stop payment on any checks that may have been stolen or used by a fraud identity thief.
• If you're unsure about any of your outstanding checks, put stop payments on them as well.
• Make contact with the major check verification businesses and ask they notify retailers, who use their databases, not to accept your checks:
  • TeleCheck: 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
  • Cetergy, Inc: 1-800-437-5120
  • International Check Services: 1-800-631-9656
  • Call SCAN at 1-800-262-7771 to learn if bad checks have been passed in your name
• Sometimes if your accounts have been compromised, it may be easier and make more sense to cancel your checking and savings accounts. Once closed, you can open new accounts with new account numbers.

Step 4 - File a police report

Inform local law enforcement about your identity theft event.

• File a report with your local police department or sheriff's office. Provide as many records as possible, including copies of debt collection letters, credit reports, and your notarized ID Theft Affidavit when you file the report.
• Before they eliminate the debts incurred by the identity thief, some creditors may request a copy of the police report. So be sure to get a copy from your local law enforcement agency once it's been completed.

What else can I do?

File a complaint with the FTC's Identity Theft Clearinghouse.

Built as a nationwide databse for ID theft complaints, the Federal Trade Commission Clearinghouse is the federal government's repository for ID theft complaints. This central database is called the Consumer Sentinel, which is logged on to by numerous local and state law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. You can either call their toll-free hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT or complete an online complaint form.

Report the identity theft to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. The requirements for reporting ID theft and procedures involved may be different than those we've outlined here but informing the DMV is an important step to take in clearing your name:

• A person who alleges that their identification or Driver's License has been stolen, lost or otherwise misplaced must file a written complaint or notice with the DMV requesting a new driver license number (No oral or telephone requests are accepted).
• If the DMV receives such written correspondence, then the written request is forwarded to Driver Services, Driver Services License Division for review by the administrative staff.
• The Driver License Division will send a form response or form notice that states that the person must provide the following information for issuance of a new DL# (If not included in the initial written request):
  
  
  • Police report (including - that the information was lost, stolen or otherwise misplaced).
  • Documentation relating to fraudulent purchases, including credit card statements, letters to credit card companies or credit reporting agencies indicating unauthorized purchases.
  • Court orders expunging traffic violations or judgments determined not to have been made by the person.
  • Bank account statements, canceled checks, letters of notification to and from banks explaining their circumstances for NSF or stop payment notifications relating to fraud, etc.
  
  
• The written request for a new Driver's License number and the response from the Drivers License Division responses are microfilmed and recorded on the individuals driving record.
  
  
• Upon receipt from the individual of the required documentation requested in the DMV response letter, documents are microfilmed and placed on the driver record. After careful review by Drivers License Management, a recommendation as to the issuance of a new Drivers License number is made. If a new driver's license number is recommended, the paperwork is forwarded to the Director of Driver Services for that final approval.
  
  
• A letter from the Drivers License Division is sent to the individual either issuing a new Drivers License number (which the person can take to the license branch to obtain a new license) or a letter is sent to the individual explaining why a new Drivers License number is not being issued at this time. This letter will inform the individual the option for an administrative hearing. All requests for an administrative hearing must be in writing and directed to the Legal Department of the DMV.
  
  
• Issuance or denial is microfilmed and a comment is placed on the record of the individual.
  
  
• Recount any mail theft to your local U.S. Postal Inspection Service district office. They will look into if your mail has been stolen by an identity thief and whether or not it's been used to open new credit accounts or commit fraud.
  
  
• Your local U.S. Department of State field office is the agency to report any Passport Fraud to or if you've lost or had your passport stolen.
  
  
• Safeguard your Social Security number. To confirm the correctness of earnings reported for your social security number, contact the Social Security Administration. To inspect for errors or fraud, order a copy of your Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) from the Social Security Administration. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.ssa.gov.

How to Fight Identity Theft