In light of the recent data leaks by large organizations, perhaps tens
of millions of people's identities may have been compromised. How much
information is out there being sold that can harm individuals is
unknown. Its time to take some defensive steps to see how we can
protect ourselves from this information being misused.
According to Privacy Rights it's possible in some
states to freeze any new credit reports in your name without
permission. This option prevents anyone from getting your credit report
without your permission. This option is available only in some states, but the list is
growing. You might try these folks to see if you can get some help - www.privacyrights.org/
You might call these people and
remove your name from telemarketing programs to limit your exposure. www.donotcall.gov/. These are reputable sights that
offer practical ways to limit your damage and to help avoid the problem
before it happens. Following is a reprint from the Federal Trade
Commission.
How do I cope with
identity theft?
Close fraudulent accounts;
Consider your identity theft incident as your "case." Your primary goals are to:
Clear yourself of responsibility for any debts or other criminal activities the thief has perpetrated in your name;
Ensure that your credit report is correct, and;
Find out as much information about the suspect as you can so you can share that information with the police and the FTC.
Develop
a plan of action to accomplish these goals. Make a list of the
documents you'll need and a list of companies from which you'll need to
get those documents.
When
contacting a company, don't assume that the person you talk to will
give you all the information you need. For example, the company you call first
may say they weren't the ones that extended the credit to the thief.
But if you ask, they may be able to tell you which company that did.
Listen carefully and take notes. Don't end the call until you're sure
you understand everything you've been told. If you don't feel you're
getting the help you need, ask to speak to a supervisor.
The following tips can help keep your case organized:
Follow up in writing with all contacts you've made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested.
Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send.
Keep a list of anyone you talk to, what you were told, and the date of the conversation.
Keep originals of supporting documentation, like police reports and letters to and from creditors; share copies only.
Set up a filing system for easy access to your paperwork.
Keep
old files even if you think your case is closed. Although most cases
once resolved, stay resolved, in some cases, problems can crop up
again. Should this happen, you'll be glad you kept your files.
What are the first steps I should take if I'm a victim of identity theft?
Follow
up all calls in writing. Send your letter by certified mail, return
receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and
when. Keep copies for your files.
Place
a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more
accounts in your name. Contact any of the three major consumer
reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit
report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to
place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the
other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report,
too.
Once
you place the fraud alert in your file, youre entitled to order free
copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four
digits of your SSN will appear on your credit reports.
Once
you receive your reports, review them carefully to make sure no
fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized
changes made to your existing accounts.
Contact
the creditors (for example, credit card companies, phone companies and
other utilities, and banks and other lenders) to close any accounts
that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Ask to speak with
someone in the security or fraud department of each creditor, and then
follow up in writing. It's particularly important to notify credit card
companies in writing. You may ask creditors for a copy of the
application or other business transaction records relating to your
identity theft, if you think that this information will be helpful to
prove that are you are a victim. Creditors must provide this
information free of charge.
File a
report with your local police. Get a copy of the police report in case
the creditors, credit bureaus or others need proof of the crime.
File a complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity
theft cases which are 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 may
better assist you.
What should I look for on a credit report to indicate identity theft?
Check your credit reports
carefully to make sure the information is accurate. Look for
Inquiries
you didn't initiate
Accounts you didn't open
Unexplained debts on
your legitimate accounts.
Check that information like your SSN;
address; name and any variations, including initials, Jr., Sr., etc.;
and employers is correct.
Inaccuracies in this information may also be
due to typographical errors. Nevertheless, notify the credit bureau as soon as possible by
telephone and in writing. Inquiries on credit reports from potential
credit card issuers do not always mean that some one has tried to get
credit in your name. Banks and credit card companies often inquire
about a consumer's creditworthiness to help them target their marketing
efforts. These inquiries will be identified in a designated section of
the report.
Free Annual Credit Reports
A recent amendment to the
federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the major nationwide
consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your
credit reports, at your request, once every 12 months.
To order
your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting
companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com
Call toll-free
877-322-8228
Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and
mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 303485281.
You can print it from www.ftc.gov/credit.Do not contact the
three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They
provide free annual credit reports only through www.annualcreditreport.com.
