How to Respond After Identity Theft OccursBy Gary E. Cain Author www.dollarsforever.com
Identity theft has become one of
most frequently reported crimes. But, maybe you are asking yourself: What is identity theft? I am glad you asked.
Identity theft is wrongful use of your name, birth date, social security number as well as financial records and banking information.
An identity thief obtains this information by going through your trash, or by pretending to be a bank officer, or government official, or by creating a false web site that looks similar to your on-line banking web site, your on-line auction web site (ebay, for example), or your on-line shopping web site (yahoo shopping, for instance).
This personal information is used to secure credit cards, bank loans, or to make furniture, and/or electronic goods purchases in YOUR name.
However, when identity theft occurs, you have certain rights under Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In order to effectively respond to suspected identity theft you should or can:
(1) Place a fraud alert in one of three consumer reporting agencies and that agency will notify other two consumer reporting agencies regarding your fraud alert.
The agencies are :
üEquifax at 1-800-525-6285, or on Internet at www.equifax.com üTransUnion at 1-800-397-3742, or on Internet at www.transunion.com üExperian at 1-800-680-7289, or www.experian.com
(2) Obtain a copy of identity theft report from a federal, state, or local police agency such as FBI, State Department of Justice, or Sheriff’s office. You can find more specific information pertaining to identity theft report at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
(3) Put an initial theft alert in your consumer report file that will be valid for 90 days.
Yet, you can place an extended alert in your consumer report file that will remain valid for 7 years – if you also provide a copy of identity theft report.
