The 7 Things You Must Do If You Believe You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft

Key steps to take if you're a victim of identity theft that limit the damage and get you back on track: Internet Scambusters™ #285

Today we recommend you begin by visiting this week's issue of Scamlines -- What's New in Scams? -- now.

Identity theft causes misery for millions of people every year. The nightmare gets worse when people don't know what to do to combat the crime if they are victims.

Today, we highlight 7 of the most important things you must do to limit the damage caused by identity theft scammers. We explain who you need to notify and what documentation you must have.

Plus, we've added some bonus tips on how to make the process go smoothly and keep your sanity!

And before we begin, we encourage you to take a look at this week's most popular articles from our other sites:

Identity Theft Protection Services: Are The Critics Right? Read both sides of the identity theft protection service debate.

Busting the Myths About Memory Improvement! Steer clear of these quick-fix myths for memory improvement -- improve your memory the tried and true way.

Can Online Pet Medications Really Save You Money? Before you jump onto the online pet medications bandwagon, here are some things to consider.

How to Make Good Photo Books Better: Make your photo books shine with glory with these 3 easy tips.

Let's get started...


The 7 Things You Must Do If You Believe
You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft


Identity theft -- it's a moment we all dread happening. You get a credit card statement packed with things you didn't buy. Or a bill collection agency contacts you for overdue debts you didn't run up. Or you apply for a loan only to find what you thought was your great credit record has been wrecked.

These are just some of the ways you might discover you're the victim of identity theft -- when someone steals your personal financial details, like credit card and Social Security numbers and then passes themselves off as you while they go on a spending spree or even assume your identity for employment.

Once you get over the initial shock of discovery though, there are several key things you can do to limit the impact of the crime, to minimize your own personal financial loss and to get your credit record -- and your life -- back on the rails as soon as possible.

We've compiled a list of 7 of the most important things you should do as soon as you know you're the victim of identity theft. This isn't legal advice -- we recommend you talk to your attorney if you are an ID theft victim.

Nonetheless, here are 7 things to do as quickly as you can:

  1. Tell the major credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Call them or visit their websites. Don't rely, as some suggest, on one agency promising to tell the others.

    Request free copies of your current reports, telling the bureaus you think you're the victim of identity fraud. Ask them to issue a credit freeze or fraud alert and add a statement to your credit record. New credit can't be issued without your personal approval.

  2. Tell the Social Security Administration if the thief has or may have access to your Social Security number. Call the SSA Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.

    If it's possible someone has used your identity to get employment, request and check your Social Security and Earnings Benefit Statement for jobs you've never had. Work with the SSA to unravel what has happened and correct your records. A new Social Security number is almost impossible to get.

  3. Tell the Police. File an Identity Theft Report and make sure you get a copy that you can, in turn, copy and send to the credit bureaus and anyone who claims you owe them money. Sometimes these can be filed online.

    This is actually very important. Although you probably won't get much police action (sadly, ID theft is just too common a crime -- it happens to too many people every year and the police don't have the resources to follow through), there are two reasons filing a report is still important.

    First, if the police are able to find an identity thief, your report can be instrumental in prosecuting them. Second, you'll need the police report as documentation as you try to rebuild your credit.

  4. Tell your bank, credit card or store card companies. Close accounts that have been tampered with. If in doubt, close it.

    Important: Insist they tag closed accounts with the word 'closed at customer's request'; other wording like 'card stolen' can affect your credit rating. Cancel any stolen checks.

  5. File an ID Theft Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They maintain a database of identity thefts.

    Download and complete the FTC's Identity Theft Affidavit.

    Get it notarized.

    This is especially useful if someone has opened a new account in your name, rather than hijacked an existing account.

    The FTC website is a great resource for guidance on ID theft.

  6. Tell everyone else: make sure to notify every single organization whose membership/ID cards, customer numbers or other property may have been stolen. These might include:

    • Your cell phone company

    • The DMV (for driver's license)

    • The US Postal Service (if your address is being used fraudulently)

    • The US State Department (for passports)

    • Your health insurer

    • Even your local library

    • Utility companies, city or county authorities (if your identity has been used to obtain their services)

  7. Change all passwords and pin numbers on any accounts or cards you are 100% certain are not compromised.

    There are a number of other things you might want to do, depending on the circumstances -- like checking your house deed records or other documents where thieves may have forged signatures.

    Important: keep a written record of everything you do, everyone you deal with, the names of the people you speak with (always get their names), the dates and times you spoke to them, their phone numbers and any other reference numbers they give you.

    Ensure you have documentation for every disputed purchase or debt -- from the card companies and any creditors who say you owe them money. Keep all of these documents forever.

    And when the whole thing is over, go back to the credit bureaus and work with them to rebuild your credit record accurately if it has been damaged.

    Above all, follow these rules throughout the process:

  8. Don't panic or lose your temper; you'll waste time.

  9. Be prepared to spend a lot of time sorting things out; never give up; be absolutely meticulous.

  10. If you know how the theft happened, take whatever steps are necessary to make sure it doesn't occur again. You can find more information on identity theft at our Identity Theft Information Center.

  11. Consider taking preventive action like subscribing to LifeLock or TrustedID. Read our answers to our subscribers' 5 biggest questions about identity theft protection.

  12. With effort and a sprinkling of good luck, you can put this whole experience behind you and start anew, with your sanity intact and your finances in the recovery room.

    If your wallet or credit card was stolen, you can find additional tips in our article: What to Do if Your Credit Card or Wallet is Stolen.

    Time to conclude for today -- have a great week!

     

    Please Check Out These Offers -
    They Keep ScamBusters Free


    "Finally...You Can Pay Off ALL Your Debts, Including Your Mortgage, In Less Than 10 Years...Even If You Just Got Your Mortgage Yesterday...AND the More Debts You Have the Better!"

    ...Without having to 'pinch pennies', get a second job or cut back your spending in any way -- and still become debt-free!

    Did you know that trying to pay off your high interest rate debts first and/or paying extra on more than one debt can be the SLOWEST way to get out of debt?

    "How To Own Your Paycheck Again!" reveals everything you need to know to pay off those debts in the shortest possible time.

    And the really amazing part is... if you can pay all your bills on time now, the more debts you have the better!

    I know it sounds crazy but the author of this program has been teaching this method for almost 10 years and he's got the feedback from students to back it up. We met him recently at a conference, and he clearly knows his stuff.

    He's got a special deal just for ScamBusters.org visitors. Discover the full story now by Clicking here


    "Exclusive Car Buying Guide Exposes Insider Secrets and Turns Auto Sales Industry Upside Down... Saving You Up To $5,000 On Your New Or Used Car!"

    How you can pay less for your new or used car and avoid the typical car buying blunders almost everyone makes:

    Ex-dealership manager tells all...

    Peter Humleker, the ex-general manager of a popular new car dealership, exposes the best-kept "insider secrets" on how to outsmart any car salesman and stop him from shamelessly siphoning money out of your pockets...

    In fact, he can help you become a shrewd car-buying expert in just a couple of hours!

    Here's what two readers have to say about Peter's book:

    "Greetings, Peter. Well, I went over your e-book and bought a Nissan Altima 3.5 SL for $250 under invoice. And the dealer's invoice was less than the other figures I saw on the Internet... Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your publication. It saved me thousands of my after tax dollars."
    -- Walter G. Aiello, Ph.D., Manager, Network and Information Services, Duke University Medical Center


    "I was a former Finance Manager in the car business and got your book mostly out of curiosity. I was pretty surprised when I read your section on the Finance Department! You certainly didn't hold anything back.

    "You exposed every scam in existence plus some I never even knew about. Everyone who reads your book is going to thank you for saving them a lot of money.
    -- Jerry Goettig, Former Finance Manager, Southern California

    This is a great time to buy a car or truck -- but only if you know the truth about how NOT to get taken and how to get a great deal. Visit now for details: Click here


    Home Business Secrets - Here's a Funny Way To Make a Living

    If you're serious about making money in a respectable, honest, in-demand home-based business that's easy to run with almost zero overhead then listen to this: There's big money in funny.

    It's a fact. There are thousands of people in your area who will happily pay you big bucks to make them laugh. And anyone can do it. You don't have to be a comedian to be successful.

    The income from this little-known home-based business can be huge. You can start in an instant and work when you feel like it. But the best part is, there's practically zero overhead, so almost every dime you make is pure profit. Get the full story now: Click Here


    Scambusters contact
    Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All Rights Reserved
    Privacy Policy | Resources | Subscribe

      rss feed