Unfortunately, all of us are potential Identity theft victims. You will need to know the next steps to take to protect your self as much as possible if you fall into the hands of identity theft.
Contact Your Local Authorities
First and foremost, you must contact your local authorities to receive a police report or number. The police are most likely not going out of their way to help you, but still you need that report. Some departments of law differ from others, meaning that some officers are compassionate, while others could care less.
Sometimes this is due to the restrains put on the law enforcement to prevent or fight a crime, while other times it is because the law hires in employees that have backgrounds that would scare the beard off your grandmother's chin.
In other words, the law enforcement employs in perpetrators of crimes without even knowing until the crimes are committed. Unfortunately, there is a lot of cover up in law enforcement, but still that report is essential to finish your procedures in identity theft.
Contact Federal Trade Commission
The next step is to contact the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse, where these people will spread the word that your identity was stolen. In some cases, it helps, while in other cases it appears all in ineffective. The most significant step that follows contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is to contact the credit bureaus.
Credit Bureaus
The credit bureaus store your personal information, including FICO scores. Call TransUnion, Equifax and Experian alerting them that your identity was stolen and request instant copies of your credit reports.
The copies are free at this point, thus ensure you notify the proper credit bureaus. If anyone tries to charge, you learn your rights before calling and let them know that they are within violation of your rights. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion often give little problems when requesting reports, particularly if you are a identity theft victim.
Review the Reports
Once you receive reports, review the reports with vigilance searching for any debts, bankruptcies, tax liens, delinquencies, et cetera on the reports that do not belong to you. Any charges unauthorized by you are sure to follow up by filling out the dispute forms provide by the credit bureaus immediately.
The bureau will carry out an investigation on your behalf, by contacting the companies or sources accusing you and requesting proof of the debts.
If the bureaus find there is not adequate information that suggests that you caused the debt, the bureaus will place "deleted" or "dismissed" behind the debt. Under law, the credit bureaus are obligated to remove any debts from your credit reports that clearly were not incurred by you.
Safeguard the Original Copies of all Reports
Keep original copies of all reports, letters received and sent, and other documentations in a safe filing cabinet. It is significant to keep the files organized and never throw them away under any situation.
Moreover, unless you are not connected to a server (Internet) do not store the files on your computer. If you decide to hook the Internet up to the computer, immediately remove the files, storing them on storage mediums, such as tapes, disc, floppy, external Medias, or Zip drives.
Always, keep a hard copy in a filing cabinet. Learn how to keep notes of all activities and never throw away any receipts, especially if you purchased by credit/debit cards, or checks.
Fraud Alert or Freeze
Request the bureaus to place a Fraud Alert or Freeze on your accounts when you contact the credit bureaus. Instantly close bank accounts, credit card accounts and other accounts in your name.
Next, contact your Secretary of State or Department of Motor Vehicle and report the crime. You will also need to contact the Social Security Administration alerting them that your identity was stolen.
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