Identity Theft

If you become a victim of fraud, there are a few steps you should do to protect yourself from any further harm.

Contact the 3 Major Credit Bureaus

Contact the 3 major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert and victim statement on your credit report. Order a copy of your report from each bureau and review for any inaccuracies.
Credit Bureau
Order Your Report
Report Fraud
Equifax
Visit Equifax Website or call 800-685-1111
Call 800-525-6285 or write to:
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian Visit Experian website or call 888-397-3742
Call 888-397-3742 or write to:
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Visit TransUnion website or call 800-888-4213
Call 800-680-7289 and write to:
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790

Review Your Credit Reports

Review your credit reports every 6 months. Contact and close any accounts you believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Change Your PIN Numbers & Passwords

Make sure to change your PIN numbers and passwords on existing accounts.

Contest All Fraudulent Accounts

Contest all fraudulent accounts with the financial institution or business in writing and follow up by sending them the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Affidavit. A form Affidavit may be found on the Federal Trade Commission website.

File a Police Report & Get a Copy

The police report should identify all fraudulent activity. Under the “Police Report Initiative,” the credit bureaus will accept a copy of the police report to block any fraudulent account information from appearing on your credit report.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission

Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-IDTHEFT or on their website. They will enter your complaint information into the national identity theft database and provide victim assistance and consumer education materials. Their website will also provide additional information about your rights as a victim and further explain all of the steps you will need to repair your credit rating. Unfortunately, repairing your credit can be a time consuming and frustrating undertaking.

Keep a detailed log of every step you take. Your records will be valuable as you contest fraudulent activity and just as valuable to law enforcement if an investigation is conducted.

For More Information

For further information about Financial Crimes, please visit the U.S. Secret Service’s website.