Victims of identity theft
Victims of identity theft
If you happen to fall victim to identity theft, there are some things you can do which include: Contact your credit bureaus and ask them to put a fraud alert on your accounts. Report the crime to the three companies that deal with credit fraud- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Placing a fraud alert will necessitate creditors to contact you before giving out credit. This is because your file will have been flagged. You may consider contacting the companies through a cell phone number. After placing a fraud alert on your accounts, request copies of your credit reports to monitor if you have been charged for what you actually purchased. Some of the tips that you should follow in order to minimize the risk of your identity being stolen include: Promptly collecting your mail in the mail box. Do not leave it overnight or during the weekends. Take a review of your consumer reports from time to time to ensure that they reflect your purchases during a period. Any unwanted documents that contain personal information should be shred and destroyed. Be cautious when giving out your personal information. Do not give out your personal details over the phone or the internet unless you are the one who started the conversation or the website uses SSL. Also, avoid carrying your birth certificate or social security number. Have them placed at a secure location. Memorizing your passwords. Do not write them on papers or on other materials that you carry along. Also, it is good not to have common facts about you like your birth date, middle name, etc as your password as one can easily find these out. Another caution is to ensure that you do not leave your receipts at the gas station or shopping mall after paying for the services. Make sure you immediately report any lost or stolen credit card. If you have fallen victim to a mail theft, report this immediately to the US Postal Inspection office in your area. If you are a victim of credit card fraud, call your credit card fraud office and request an “alert” to be placed on your credit card. Ask for copies of your credit card statements to check whether any purchase or account has been fraudulently opened under your name without your knowledge. Contact your creditors and bank in writing and by phone and report the fraud. If you are a victim, report the incident to the police department at once and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
