Identity Theft Victims:
Immediate Steps
Identity Theft Protection - Quick Links
Note: If you should become a victim of identity theft refer to "Identity Theft Victims: Immediate Steps" The Federal Trade Commission has a comprehensive website, "Take Charge:Fighting Back Against Identity Theft" at http://www.ftc.gov.
This site is an excellent resource for helping consumers Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. The site will give you the recommended contact information and procedures for you to:
1. Contact one of three credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports. It is not necessary to call all three as the bureau you contact is required to contact the other two.
Equifax
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
http://www.equifax.com
(800) 685-1111
Trans Union
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
http://www.transunion.com
(800) 916-8800 or (800) 888-4213
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
http://www.experian.com
(888) 397-3742
2. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been compromised or opened without your authorization.
3. File a report with your local police.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
You can file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. If you don't have Internet access, call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653- 4261; or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.
|
