Identity Theft Victim - 4 Things to Do Right Now!
Ranked #13,893 in Culture & Society, #276,872 overall
4 Things to Do Now - If you think your identity has been stolen.
Please rate this lens if you found it useful. Thank-you!
NOTE: Just recently two of my friends have been the victim of Identity Theft. Here is the Information I found to help them deal with it. I thought others would find it useful.
Do you know the steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if your identity is stolen?
Remember - there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft. Here are 4 steps you can take immediately if you think someone has used your identity for illegal purposes.
Step 1... Contact
Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies - Equifax, TransUnion, Experian - to place a fraud alert on your credit report.
A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening any new accounts.
A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening any new accounts.
Step 2... Close
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.
Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
Step 3... File
File your complaint with the FTC. You should print a copy of your complaint with the FTC to provide important standardized information for your local police report.
Here is the link to the FTC's Identity Theft Complaint Form.
Here is the link to the FTC's Identity Theft Complaint Form.
Step 4... Report
File a report with your local police or police in the community where the identity theft took place.
Give the police a copy of your FTC ID Theft complaint form.
Get a copy of the police report (or, at least, the police report number). You may need it when dealing with the creditor.
Give the police a copy of your FTC ID Theft complaint form.
Get a copy of the police report (or, at least, the police report number). You may need it when dealing with the creditor.
Great Stuff on Amazon
Consumer News from the US Government
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byHave You Been a Victim of Identity Theft?
Please share your experience.
submit
-
Reply
-
shreddingdallas Mar 14, 2011 @ 4:41 am | delete
- When you notice that your credit billing is way over what you have expected, or when you are getting messages or mail from people you do not know and they are claiming that they know you - check your bank account or call the credit card company to check if there are any transactions made under your account. It would be best to stay vigilant and regularly check on all your receipts to detect any anomalous transactions. There are fraudulent people who even go dumpster diving just to see if there are any documents that they can use so be careful. Properly dispose your personal documents through the assistance of a shredding Houston company (for example) as another precautionary measure.
-
-
Reply
-
KokoTravel
Dec 27, 2010 @ 1:48 pm | delete
- Scary thought... great advice!
-
-
Reply
-
charle
Dec 24, 2010 @ 3:12 pm | delete
- Great lens and important advices , I also wrote a lens about identity theft and would like you to read it , thank you
-
-
Reply
-
flippo
Dec 24, 2010 @ 3:09 pm | delete
- Thank you
-
-
Reply
-
agsdirect
Nov 3, 2010 @ 1:30 pm | delete
- Use credit cards for transactions on the Internet. If someone compromises your credit card, your personal liability is limited. For added security, many banks now offer single-use low-limit cards that expire within a short time period.
Identity Theft Protection
AGS XPress - Security Blog
-
- Load More
Favorite Places on the Web.
- How to Get Your Free Credit Report
- Did you know you can now get free credit reports. Don't let anyone tell you need to pay for them!
- Equity Loans
- Free information about the do's and don't of home equity loans. Find out about scams that could steal your home from you.
by SquidooTom
SquidooTom
Squidoo is a perfect home for me. I just can't resist giving advice. Just ask my kids.
- 3 featured lenses
- Winner of 3 trophies!
- Top lens » Cracked Skin On Fingers
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- RFID Block : Wallets and Cases : Credit Cards at Risk : Gift for Traveler : Keep your data safe RFID Block : Wallets and Cases : Credit Cards at Risk : Gift for Traveler : Keep your data safe
- Electronic Pickpocketing Electronic Pickpocketing
- Learn how to protect yourself from gumtree scams Learn how to protect yourself from gumtree scams
- Stolen Identity Prevention Tips That Everyone Needs To Know Stolen Identity Prevention Tips That Everyone Needs To Know
- Fraud Busters : Take a Bite Out of Crime Fraud Busters : Take a Bite Out of Crime
- Free Annual Credit Reports Free Annual Credit Reports
