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| What should I do if I become a victim of identity theft? |
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Taking quick action can help overcome some of the difficulties caused by identity theft.
Here are the steps to take immediately should you become a victim:
- Contact the fraud division of the three credit reporting agencies to let them know you have been a victim of identity theft.
- Equifax: 800-525-6285
- Experian: 888-397-3742
- Trans Union: 800-680-7289
Request they place a "fraud alert" on your file. This alert will warn lenders to be especially careful in authenticating identity of anyone claiming to be you. It will mean that you cannot open instant credit, for example, at a retail store. But that is a minor inconvenience in light of the damage identity theft can do.
- File a report with your local police department and make sure to get a copy.
- Contact each credit grantor who has allowed a fraudulent account and tell them you did not open that account. Have them close these accounts. If you open new accounts, make sure to place a password on the account.
- Call the Identity Theft Toll-Free Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). This is the central point of contact within the federal government for reporting incidents of identity theft.
- Document all these contacts with dates, names and phone numbers for your records.
Additional Resources
For additional information or resources that can assist with Identity Theft, visit the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse online at www.privacyrights.org, or the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov.
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