ID Theft – What To Do If
You Are A Victim
Florida
ranks second only to California in the number of cases of this white-collar
crime. The Federal Trade Commission said identity theft was involved in more
that 40 percent of the number of consumer complaints received last year and
experts believe that the number will grow because it’s easy to access personal
data and identity thieves face light penalties.
When
identity thieves wreak disaster on your personal finances it is important
to act very quickly and assertively to minimize any damage to your identity
and credit history. Here is what you
will need to do:
File
a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (877) 438-4338
Identity
Theft Clearinghouse
Federal
Trade Commission
600
Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington,
DC 20580
Contact
each of the three national consumer-reporting agencies. You
may want to send them a copy of the complaint filed with the FTC to help their
investigation. Also, ask each to place
a “fraud alert” on your credit report so lenders contact you before granting
credit in your name. You are entitled
to a free credit report if you are a victim of identity theft.
Equifax
Credit Information Services Inc.
(800)
525-6285
P.O.
Box 740241
Atlanta,
GA 30374-0241
Experian
Information Solutions Inc.
(888)
397-3742
Box
9530
Allen,
TX 75013
TransUnion
(800)
680-7289
Fraud
Victim Assistance Division
P.O.
Box 6790
Fullerton,
CA 92634-6790
Contact
by phone and in writing every department store, utility company, credit card
issuer, etc., with which
your name may have been used fraudulently.
Get replacement cards with a different account number for those accounts
that were accessed fraudulently.
Notify and report the crime to your local law enforcement agency. Provide as much documented evidence as possible. Obtain a copy of the police report and keep the investigator’s name and phone number on hand. You may be requested to supply the information to creditors and others to verify your case and the crime.