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 The theft can be as simple as someone pilfering your credit-card number and charging merchandise to your account. Or it can be as elaborate as a crook using your name, birth date, and Social Security Number to take over your credit-card and bank accounts, or set up new ones.
You may not know your identity has been stolen until you notice that something’s amiss. You may get bills for a credit card account you never opened, your credit report may include debts you never knew you had, a billing cycle may pass without your receiving a statement, or you may see charges on your bills that you didn’t sign for, didn’t authorize, and don’t know anything about. Checks start bouncing or a collection agency begins calling. The resulting damage could prevent you from getting credit, a mortgage or even a job. Once you realize that someone is using your identity, the first thing to do is report the crime to the police immediately. Give the police as much information and documentation as possible. Creditors, banks, credit reporting agencies and insurance companies may require you to provide a police report to verify that you are a victim of the crime of identify theft. Second, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit reporting agencies (listed on Page 2). Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert including a statement that creditors should call you for permission before they open any new accounts in your name. Third, request a copy of your credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies, and review each one carefully. Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department, and follow up in writing to confirm the conversation and the action the credit card issuer has agreed to take, such as canceling the card and providing a replacement card, or closing the fraudulent account. If you have reason to believe that an identity thief has accessed your bank accounts, checking account or ATM card, close the accounts immediately. Change all unique identifiers for your accounts, such as passwords and PINS. If your checks have been stolen or misused, stop payment and issue replacement checks. If it appears that someone is using your Social Security Number when applying for a job, get in touch with the Social Security Administration to verify the accuracy of your reported earnings and that your name is reported correctly. Call (800) 772-1213 to order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement.
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