Fight Back Against Identity Theft

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Identity theft is a serious crime which costs American consumers billions of dollars and hundreds of hours every year. It occurs when someone uses your personal data without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

While you can’t completely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps that you can take to minimize your risk. Even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, encourages users to Deter, Discover and shield to help reduce identity theft.

Deter

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information:

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you drop them.

• Protect your Social Security number. Give out it only if absolutely essential or ask to use another identifier.

• Do not give out personal information via the telephone, email or the Internet unless you know who you’re managing.

Detect

Detect suspicious actions by routinely monitoring your bank account and billing statements. Be alert to signs which require immediate care, such as: bills which do not appear as expected; unexpected credit cards or accounts statements; denials of credit for no apparent reason; and calls or letters regarding purchases you didn’t make.

Defend

If you think your identity has been stolen, Here Is What to do:

1. Contact the fraud departments of any of these three consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only have to contact among the very best companies to place an alert.

2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened up.

3. File a report with your local authorities or the authorities in the community where the identity theft occurred. Get a copy of the report , in least, the number of the document, to submit to your creditors and others who might require proof of the crime.

4. 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 officers learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so they can better assist you.