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Reporting Identity Fraud
By FeaturesMan | May 15, 2008
If you think you are a victim of identity fraud it is vitally important that you take immediate steps to begin repairing the damage that has been done. The damage may be more than you think it is, depending on the length of time that someone has had your identity and been using it.
First, you need to be aware of the signs that you may be a victim of identity fraud. Some of the key signs are:
- Irregularities on your credit report including applications for credit that you didn’t make or many applications in a short period of time.
- Odd charges on your credit card that you do not remember making.
- Odd withdrawals on your checking account or large amounts that you do not remember making.
- New credit cards being sent to your mailing address that you did not apply for.
- Statements from banks that you do not deal with.
- Emails or postal mail from vendors that you’ve not dealt with.
If you think you may be the victim of identity fraud you should immediately begin reporting your suspicions. You should file reports with:
- Your bank and any financial institutions you deal with
- Your credit card companies
- Your utility companies (phone, electric, water, gas, cable)
- Your local police
- The Federal Trade Commission
- The three national credit bureaus fraud departments (addresses and phone numbers are listed below)
The three national credit bureaus:
Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA
30374-0241
1-800-525-6285
Experian
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX
75013
1-888-397-3742
Trans Union LLC
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA
92634
1-800-680-7289
It is much quicker to call the credit bureaus to report a possible identity theft. The three credit agencies should also send you a free copy of your credit report for you to check over as well. When you receive your credit reports, check them over thoroughly and highlight anything that is unusual, or that you do not recall. Report these discrepancies back to the credit bureaus.
You should also look for new addresses that are attached to your name, it is possible that your mail is being sent to someone else. Report the addresses to the postal inspector in your area as well as to the police and credit bureaus.
If you find any new credit accounts in your name, dispute them immediately and have them closed down. These too should be reported to your police and to the credit bureaus. File an identity theft affidavit with these creditors. Request from these creditors a copy of the applications that were used to sign up and apply for the account. This will help you prove to the local authorities that someone forged your signature and can be instrumental in getting these accounts stricken from your credit record.
Ensure that you keep copies of all documentation that you receive and all interactions with your financial institutions, credit bureaus, police, Federal Trade Commission, creditors, post office – everything and anything that relates to your identity theft. You may need to hire a lawyer to help you with your case or to prosecute someone who has committed identity fraud.
There is no time to lose if you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft. Waste no time in beginning to launch an investigation and reporting your findings to those listed above in this article. Keep an eye on your credit reports and all the bills and mailings that come through your postal mail and email.
The faster you find out someone is taking your identity, the more you can do and the less damage that will be done to your credit. Identity theft is a serious matter and one that you may have to take into your own hands. Be vigilant with your personal, financial and credit information and report anything suspicious immediately.
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Faithe Thomas is concerned about identity theft and online fraud. She designed a website to help victims and pre-victims: http://www.identity-fraud.info
Tags: identity fraud, identity theft, victim
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