Tips for Preventing and Handling Identity Theft
February 2009
In our cashless society, individuals increasingly rely on the Internet and credit cards to conduct everyday transactions and manage their financial affairs. This creates real potential for anyone in our society to become a victim of identity theft.
Identify & Prevent Potential Threats
There are many ways to illegally obtain an individual’s personal information. For example:
- Mail theft
- Computer hacking
- Tricking you into giving information over the Internet
- Looking over your shoulder to obtain personal information at ATMs
- Rummaging through trash
While no one is immune to being a victim, you can take simple steps to prevent identity theft:
- Call your bank if you are missing a statement
- Use passwords that are difficult to guess and avoid accessing personal or financial information on public computers
- Use common sense when making purchases or providing information online
- Watch for suspicious activity around an ATM before using it
- Shred financial and personal documents
This is not a comprehensive list, but the general concept is to be careful of who you give your personal information to. You can find out more on the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web site.
If You are a Victim
If you have been a victim of identity theft, follow these steps to minimize the damage and stop the thief.
- File a Police Report
Get the police report number and a copy of the report to submit to your creditors. - Contact all 3 National Credit Bureaus
Report the identity theft and request a “Fraud Alert.” This ensures that you will be contacted before any new account is opened or if an existing account is changed.
Request free copies of your credit report. Credit bureaus must provide free copies of credit reports to victims of identity theft. Review the reports carefully and identify any new accounts that may have been opened. Pay particular attention to the section of the report that lists inquiries from new companies. Contact these companies immediately and have them remove any pending or new accounts from their systems.
Equifax
800-525-6285 (Fraud Hotline)
800-685-1111 (Report Order)
www.equifax.com/home/
Experian
888-397-3742 (Fraud Hotline)
888-397-3742 (Report Order)
www.experian.com
Transunion
800-680-7289 (Fraud Hotline)
800-916-8800 (Report Order)
www.transunion.com - File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Call 877-438-4338. Use the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit, a standard form that helps victims simplify the identity theft reporting process. - Contact the Social Security Administration
Call 800-269-0271 or visit www.ssa.gov if it appears someone is using your social security information to obtain credit. - Contact banks and financial institutions
Report unauthorized use of credit/debit cards. Stop and/or cancel any card or account that has been compromised. Have your bank or other financial institution change your account number and issue new cards. - Contact U.S. Postal Inspectors
If your mail was stolen or someone fraudulently changed your address report it at your local Postal Inspection Service office.
More detailed information is available on the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web site.
