You Can Make ID Theft More Difficult
Taking measures to safeguard your information is the first step. Certainly checking your credit report, shredding sensitive material, and being careful how you give out personal information on the phone or online are reasonable and prudent. At least on an individual basis, identity thieves look for the easy targets. Taking these measures now can help you fend off the less-determined crooks.
You should also take the following actions:
DO NOT sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" and sign with your initials.
DO NOT include any part of your credit card number in the memo field of the check, leave that line blank. The preprinted slip you return with your payment is all the credit card issuer needs to ensure payment is allocated against the correct account.
DO NOT include preprinted phone numbers on your checks. "No phone number needs to be included. If a merchant requires a phone number, the information can always written on the face of the check at the time of the transaction."
DO place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc, in your wallet. You now have a record of what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers you need to call and cancel. Keep copies of this documentation in a safe or safe deposit box. Don't leave it in a desk drawer, purse, luggage, etc.
DO carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad.
DO get secure statements from your financial institutions. Sign up with your financial institution for delivery of your statements via email for greater security.
Have an Identity Theft Disaster Plan
Being careful with your own identity information is a great start, but it's not ironclad. With more companies holding your vital credit information (and more sophisticated thieves out to snag your ID), the odds keep getting better that you could get that dreaded call or letter informing you of a compromised account or ID theft. Knowing a few of the steps you should take once you get the letter could help you minimize the damage.
1. Keep a record of your accounts. Verify your statements. Check your credit report regularly for any suspicious activity. You can check your credit report annually for free:
Via the web: AnnualCreditReport.com;
Via the telephone: 1-877-322-8228; or,
Via the mail:
Fill out the request form and send to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Note - to request
2. NOTIFY THE CREDIT BUREAUS such as Equifax at 1-800-525-6285.
3. CREATE A PAPER TRAIL. Keep notes on every phone call you make and copies of every letter you write while trying to clean up after an ID theft. Some consumers have successfully recovered money for time lost from work, postage, and other expenses incurred while recovering from an ID theft.
4. Identity theft is a crime. FILE A POLICE REPORT IMMEDIATELY in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). It could also help you later if you are called as a witness in any prosecution of the thieves.
5. GET THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal-level clearinghouse for ID theft victims. It can provide you with information and other resources to deal with the aftermath of an ID theft. The FTC also may refer you to other appropriate government agencies and private organizations for further action.
But Here is What is Perhaps Most Important:
CALL THE THREE NATIONAL CREDIT-REPORTING ORGANIZATIONS IMMEDIATELY to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
The addresses and phone numbers are:
Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 740241,
Atlanta, GA 30374
(888) 766-0008
www.equifax.com
Experian (formerly TRW)
Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
(888) 397-3742
www.experian.com
Trans Union
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
(800) 680-7289
www.transunion.com
Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
SSA Fraud Hotline
PO Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235
(800) 269-0271 (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST)
(866) 501-2101 (TTY)
Fraud Reporting Form
See also Identity Theft Contact Information.
Resources:
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)
Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft (Federal Trade Commission)
Identity Theft: How It Happens (Visa)
Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number (Social Security Administration)
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Identity Theft (101 Identity Theft)
National Check Fraud Center
Free Annual Credit Reports
Good Advice re: Identity Theft (Blogcritics.org)
Full Faith and Credit Card (snopes.com)
Freeze Your Credit Reports:
Lock Down your Credit Report with new Credit Report Freeze Option (Bad Credit Online Magazine)
How to "Freeze" Your Credit Files (Abuse.com)
Freeze Your Credit Reports For Your Protection (Credit-Cards-Info.com)