Grab a pad of paper and a pen. You need to take accurate and thorough notes as events and conversations occur. There will be a lot of activity initially. Transfer your notes to a word processor document if you have a computer. A table with the following categories works well. Ideally, you'll be able to sort the table by company name, date, etc. A sorted table can be very handy when you are doing follow-up actions. You may end up in court someday. Good notes will be valuable.
Example
| Date |
Time |
Company/Agency |
Point of contact - name and phone |
Comments |
| 2006 12 31 |
1:23 pm |
Acme |
Bill Smith, manager, (210)555-1212 |
Will accept standard affidavit. He said he'll submit a correction to my credit bureau account. |
| 2007 01 02 |
8:00 am |
Acme |
(512) 123-4567 |
Mailed affidavit to Bill Smith. Certified mail receipt number 123678. |
| 2007 01 05 |
8:32 am |
Lents Bank |
George Johanson, fraud department supervisor. (210)226-3232 |
George said he'll mail copies of the fraudulent applications to me after my written request arrives at his office. He closed the fraudulent account. |
| 2007 01 10 |
11:00 am |
Acme |
Bill Smith(210)555-1212 |
Talked to Bill Smith. Verified that he received my affidavit mailed on Feb 2, 2006. |
- Date -use a format like 2007 07 21 to improve sorting
- Company/Agency - be consistent with names to improve sorting.
You will accumulate a multitude of documents very quickly. It helps to organize them in a 3-ring binder
as soon as possible.
Order your credit reports online to have immediate access to your thief's activity.
It's worth spending the few dollars ( if required ) to get immediate access to at least one of your credit reports so that you can start fighting back today. You can get an immediate online version for free if you haven't taken advantage of your free annual reports through www.annualcreditreport.com.
You're also entitled to a free credit report from each credit bureau when you submit a fraud alert. Contact the credit bureaus if you don't receive your credit report within 10 days following your fraud alert submission.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. The Fair and Accurate Transaction Act (FACTA) adds a new section to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that provides for three varieties of alerts that consumers may add to their files with nationwide consumer reporting agencies - Fraud Alert, Extended Fraud Alert and Active Duty Fraud Alert. The alerts differ in their initiation requirements, time periods, and limits on creditors.
All three varieties of alerts must state that the consumer does not authorize new credit (other than an extension under an existing open-end credit account, that is, a credit card), an additional card on an existing account, or any increase in the credit limit of any existing account.
Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See the Federal Trade Commission's guidance on Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
- Fraud alert -
- Creditors must utilize "reasonable
policies and procedures" to form a reasonable
belief that the creditor knows the identity of the person making a credit request.
- Alert stays active for 90 days.
- Consumer can request one free credit report from each bureau.
- A fraud alert at any of the credit bureaus automatically initiates an alert at the other two.
Call any of the following numbers 24 hours a day:
| Equifax |
1-800-525-6285 |
| Experian |
1-888-397-3742 |
| TransUnion |
1-800-680-7289 |
- Extended fraud alert -
- Consumers may provide a telephone number in the alert which the creditor must use to
verify the requester's identity unless the consumer designated another reasonable method of contact.
- Alert stays active for 7 years.
- Consumer must submit an identity theft report which includes a report from a law enforcement agency.
Consumer is subject to criminal penalties for submitting false reports.
- Consumer is removed from marketing lists for 5 years, which the bureaus sell to lenders and
insurance companies for use in solicitations.
- Consumer can request two free credit reports from each bureau within 12 months of
submitted extended fraud alert.
- Active duty alert -
- Consumers on active military duty can add an alert of their status to their files.
Consumers on active duty include reservists who are on active duty, other than at their
usual station. Once a military consumer requests the active duty alert, it will become
part of his/her credit report for a 12 month period.
- Consumer is removed from marketing lists for 2 years, which the bureaus sell to
lenders and insurance companies for use in solicitations.
- Does not entitle consumer to free credit report.
- Creditors must utilize "reasonable policies and procedures" to form
a reasonable belief that the creditor knows the identity of the person making a credit request.
Try to make a report with the local police and the police department(s) with jurisdiction where your identity thief is using your name. Some identity theft victims have reported resistance from the police department to file a report. Be persistent. Furnish as much documentation as you can to prove your case. Debt collection letters, credit reports, your notarized ID Theft Affidavit, and other evidence of fraudulent activity can help the police file a complete report. Ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents" report if the police are reluctant to take your report. You can also try another jurisdiction, like your state police.
Get a copy of the police report in case the credit card company or others need proof of the crime. You'll need a police report if you decide to submit an Extended Fraud Alert. Even if the police can't catch the identity thief in your case, having a copy of the police report(s) can help you when dealing with creditors.
Report the identity theft to your credit union, credit card issuers, and any other activity that you have a financial relationship with. Add a password to your account if you haven't done so previously (don't use your mother's maiden name). Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Many of these institutions have a full time staff to work with fraud cases. Some fraud departments operate in the late evening hours, so don't wait until the next day to start your fraud reporting. Search the company web sites for access to the fraud department telephone numbers.
Most financial institutions will want you to complete an affidavit that provides information about the fraudulent activity. The Federal Trade Commission provides a standard affidavit form that may be acceptable to most of the institutions.
Some fraud departments represent several different businesses. Ask them to search all of their databases for fraudulent activity using your social security number.
It's important to follow up in writing. Mail all correspondence to the fraud departments with certified, return-receipt mail. Pick up several blank forms from the post office to save time on future mailings. You can check the delivery status of certified mail online.
The fraud departments may ask for notarized documents. Ask them to waiver this requirement. The costs start to add up.
The credit reports show where your thief has been spending your money and contact info for each merchant. Call each merchant to inform them of the theft and request copies of credit applications, charge slips, etc implemented by your thief. Ask them to submit corrections to the credit bureaus to remove entries from your credit report. Take good notes of your conversation and follow-up your conversation with a letter sent by certified, return-receipt mail. A provision of the new Fair and Accurate Transactions Act (FACTA) requires businesses to provide this information if the victim makes the request in writing. Companies must provide the records at no charge to you within 30 days of receipt of your request and supporting documentation. The company may ask for proof of your identity, a copy of the police report and a completed affidavit.
The credit bureaus and the organization that provided the information to the bureau have a responsibility to correct errors and entries caused by your identity thief. File a dispute with each bureau that is reporting incorrect information and the company that submitted the information. TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax all have dispute information online.
Identity theft is not the only cause for credit report errors. A 2004 study found that one in four credit reports contains errors serious enough to cause consumers to be denied credit, a loan, an apartment or home loan or even a job.
Contact the major check verification companies if you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up by an identity thief. Inform the verification companies that you are an identity theft victim. Keep notes and follow up with a letter.
Submit a ChexSystems security alert by visiting this link or calling 888 478-6536. ChexSystems customers will be notified of the security alert each time they inquire about you. The security alert may prevent your identity thief from opening a bank account in your name.
You can submit a 90-day or 5-year alert. You will have to complete an affidavit form.
Make sure your bank submits a report to the ChexSystems Lost or Stolen Check Hotline which alerts retailers and other banks to the missing checks or information. Insist that your bank contact ChexSystems if they're not aware of the hotline.
- CheckRite - 1-800-766-2748
- ChexSystems - 1-800-428-9623 (closed checking accounts)
- CrossCheck - 1-800-552-1900
- Equifax - 1-800-437-5120
- International Check Services - 1-800-631-9656
- National Processing (NPC) - 1-800-526-5380
- SCAN - 1-800-262-7771
- Telecheck - 1-800-710-9898
Contact utility and service provider companies such as: the local telephone company; long distance telephone company; cable company; internet service provider; and electric, power, gas or water providers. Alert each company or service provider of the theft of your identity and inform them that attempts may be made to open new service using your identification information. Request that any new request for service be confirmed with you and provide a telephone number and mailing address. Keep a copy of all of these requests.
Collection agencies may contact you about debts created by your thief. The Collection Agencies and Identity Theft fact sheet at the ID Theft Resource Center is a good source of information on this topic.
The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring criminal cases, the Commission helps victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help resolve the financial and other problems that can result from identity theft. The FTC also may refer victim complaints to other appropriate government agencies and private organizations for action. File a complaint with the FTC by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by:
- telephone: toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); TDD: 202-326-2502. This number is answered by a representative that will provide advice and immediate actions you can take.
- mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20580
- Online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Submit a complaint to the U.S. Post Office if you suspect your identity thief used your mail.
A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, provides a method to prevent anyone from looking at
your credit report without your involvement. You have to provide a personal identification number (PIN) to
the credit bureau to "thaw" out your credit report and allow access by someone you authorize.
This will stop your thief from applying for new credit where a merchant requires a credit report to authorize credit.
You have to contact each credit bureau where you want to implement a credit freeze. How much does it cost? The laws controlling the cost to freeze and thaw your credit account vary from state to state.
It's free for identity theft victims in most states. Get your police report to prove that you are an ID theft victim and you may get this protection for free. Visit this Consumer's Union site to read about laws for your state.
Keep excellent records and follow up on actions to ensure problems are resolved. Getting fraudulent entries cleared from your credit reports can be a slow and frustrating process. Be patient, but persistent. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides regulations on the process of correcting credit report errors.
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