|
 
|
IDENTITY THEFT
The following is a list of steps you should take if you are a victim of
identity theft:
- Contact your police department, and get a
copy of the law enforcement report.
- Call one of the nationwide credit
reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a fraud
alert on your credit file and to get a free copy of your credit report.
An alert can prevent someone from opening a credit account in your name.
Call the toll-free fraud number on any one of the three companies to place
the alerts with all three companies and get your credit reports.
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-680-7289
- Contact each financial institution where
fraudulent accounts were opened, and close the accounts. Speak to
someone in the fraud or security department. Follow up in writing.
More information on how to dispute fraudulent accounts is available at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft and
in Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft, a publication
available from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The publication
is also available at the website.
- Contact the FTC at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft to
report the identity theft and learn how to minimize the effects of the
fraud and protect your personal information. When you file a
complaint with the FTC, it becomes available to law enforcement through
the Consumer Sentinel network.
(From the LECC News, courtesy of
the Office of the U.S. Attorney - Eastern District of Arkansas)
|
|
