Identy Theft and Fraud: Part III

What should you do if your identity has been stolen?  Take the following four steps immediately:

1. Call the toll-free fraud number on any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report.  Once one receives your alert, the other two will be automatically notified.  All three will also send you a free credit report.  The three major ones are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.  When you get the reports, review them thoroughly.  Look for inquires you didn't initiate, accounts you didn't open, and reconcile all open accounts to verify that you opened them.  Also, verify that your name, address, SSN, and employment are correct.  And remember to continue to check your credit report at least every 6 months for fraud.
2. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.  If opening new accounts, be sure to use a different Personal Identification Number (PIN) and passwords.  If there are fraudulent charges, inform the company about what has happened and ask for the company's fraud dispute form.  If checks are stolen, contact the bank to close the account immediately.
3. File a report with your local Law Enforcement agency.  Be sure to keep a copy of the report and the report number.  This may be required to validate your claims to a creditor.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  This will provide valuable information that can help law enforcement officials track down and stop identity thieves.