Senator Maria Cantwell: Fighting Identity Theft

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT AND HOW TO REPAIR YOUR CREDIT RECORD

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file . The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports - Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union - will be sent to you free of charge.

   Equifax - www.equifax.com
   To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
   P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

   To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
   P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
   Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.

   Experian - www.experian.com
   To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
   P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013

   To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
   P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
   TDD: 1-800-972-0322

   Trans Union - www.transunion.com
   To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write:
   P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022

   To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
   Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
   TDD: 1-877-553-7803

2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
   

3. File a police report . Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
   
4. File your complaint with the FTC . The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.
   
5. Obtain a copy of any fraudulent contract or application . This document can help prove that the person who signed it wasn't you.
   
6. Keep a log of all conversations with authorities and financial institutions . Maintaining a record will help you keep track of the steps you have taken and what remains to be done.
   
7. Call your local Postal Inspection Service . If you think that an identity thief has filed a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service to redirect your mail, restore your correct address
   
   

Sources: Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Banker's Association

 

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