If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:
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Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge. Equifax - www.equifax.comTo order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 For Fraud Alerts, call: 800-525-6285 and write: Experian - www.experian.comTo order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write: P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013 For Fraud Alerts, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and
write: Trans Union - www.transunion.comTo order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
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Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
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File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime. |
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File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps the FTC learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that they can better assist you. https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03 |