IDENTITY THEFT REFERENCE GUIDE

Identity Theft checklist - what to do when your id is stolen

Did you get a data breach notice?

  • What To Do Right Away

 

    • Are you dealing with tax, medical, or child identity theft? See: Special forms of identity theft
    • Step 1: Call the companies where you know fraud occurred.
      • Call the fraud department. Explain that someone stole your identity.
      • Ask them to close or freeze the accounts. Then, no one can add new charges unless you agree.
      • Change logins, passwords, and PINS for your accounts. You might have to contact these companies again after you have an FTC Identity Theft Report.
    • Step 2: Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports.
      • Place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
      • A fraud alert is free. It will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. When you have an alert on your report, a business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name. You can renew the fraud alert after one year.
      • You’ll get a letter from each credit bureau. It will confirm that they placed a fraud alert on your file.
      • Get your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
      • You can check your reports every week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
      • Review your reports. Make note of any account or transaction you don’t recognize. This will help you report the theft to the FTC and the police.
    • Step 3: Report identity theft to the FTC.
      • Complete the online form or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible.
      • Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan.
      • Your identity theft report proves to businesses that someone stole your identity. It also guarantees you certain rights.
      • If you create an account, we'll walk you through each recovery step, update your plan as needed, track your progress, and pre-fill forms and letters for you.
      • If you don't create an account, you must print and save your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan right away. Once you leave the page, you won't be able to access or update them.
    • You may choose to file a report with your local police department.
      • Go to your local police office with:
        • a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report
        • a government-issued ID with a photo
        • proof of your address (mortgage statement, rental agreement, or utilities bill)
        • any other proof you have of the theft (bills, IRS notices, etc.)
      • Tell the police someone stole your identity and you need to file a report.
      • Ask for a copy of the police report. You may need this to complete other steps.
  • What To Do Next
    • Take a deep breath and begin to repair the damage.
    • Close new accounts opened in your name.
      • Now that you have an FTC Identity Theft Report, call the fraud department of each business where an account was opened.
      • Explain that someone stole your identity.
      • Ask the business to close the account.
      • Ask the business to send you a letter confirming that:
        • the fraudulent account isn’t yours
        • you aren’t liable for it
        • it was removed from your credit report
      • Keep this letter. Use it if the account appears on your credit report later on.
      • The business may require you to send them a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report or complete a special dispute form. This sample letter can help.
      • Write down who you contacted and when.
    • Remove bogus charges from your accounts.
      • Call the fraud department of each business.
      • Explain that someone stole your identity.
      • Tell them which charges are fraudulent. Ask the business to remove them.
      • Ask the business to send you a letter confirming that:
        • the fraudulent charges were removed
        • you aren’t liable for them
        • they were removed from your credit report
      • Keep this letter. Use it if this account appears on your credit report later on.
      • The business may require you to send them a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report or complete a special dispute form. This sample letter can help.
      • Write down who you contacted and when.
    • Correct your credit report.
      • Write to each of the three credit bureaus. This sample letter can help.
      • Include a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report and proof of your identity, like your name, address, and Social Security number.
      • Explain which information on your report came from identity theft.
      • Ask them to block that information.
        • TransUnion.com
        • Fraud Victim Assistance Department, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, 1-800-680-7289
        • Equifax.com
        • P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348-5069, 1-800-525-6285
        • Experian.com
        • P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013, 1-888-397-3742
      • If someone steals your identity, you have the right to remove fraudulent information from your credit report. This is called blocking. Once the information is blocked, it won’t show up on your credit report, and companies can’t try to collect the debt from you. If you have an FTC Identity Theft Report, credit bureaus must honor your request to block this information.
      • If you don’t have an FTC Identity Theft Report, you still can dispute incorrect information in your credit file. It can take longer, and there’s no guarantee that the credit bureaus will remove the information.
    • Consider adding an extended fraud alert or credit freeze.
    • Monitor your progress and repeat as necessary
    • Sample Letters and Forms

Source: https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/Steps

 

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