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Have you been the victim of identify theft?
There are 12 steps that you should take to ensure that you are protected.
STEP 1
Place a fraud alert on your credit card and/or bank accounts. You only need to contact one of the 3 credit reporting bureaus. Request that they place a notification to the other two on your behalf.
STEP 2
Report the theft to your local law enforcement agency. They will most likely not be able to recover your losses, but the documentation they provide is critical to your financial recovery.
STEP 3
Report the ID Theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Federal Trade Commission Complaint Assistant
(877) 438-4338
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
STEP 4
Know your victim rights. Visit our Resources tab to get more ID Theft Information.
STEP 5
Create an identity theft file that includes; police report, affidavit(s), timeline, and log of any relevant conversations with creditors.
STEP 6
Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your accounts.
STEP 7
Order your FREE credit reports from the three different reporting bureaus.
STEP 8
Contact the IRS. Even if the fraud did not initially involve your taxes, your information could potentially be used to file fraudulent returns. You may need to submit an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039).
IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit
(800) 908-4490
www.irs.gov/identitytheft
STEP 9
Contact the Social Security Administration if you believe your social security number has been compromised.
Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline
(800) 269-0271
(866) 501-2101 (TTY)
STEP 10
Dispute the fraudulent activity in writing. Use the police report that you obtain as proof that this was done without your consent.
STEP 11
Look into potential civil remedies. Many states allow you to sue the person that used your identity, and/or the businesses responsible for the compromise. You may also be eligible for any banking institutions that allowed credit to be opened under your identity without your consent.
STEP 12
Review this checklist and make necessary revisions every 30 days.