Fight Back Against Identity Theft (part 2)
Defend
If you think your identity has been stolen, here’s what to do:
1. Contact the fraud department of one of the three consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening new accounts or making changes to your existing account. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place warnings.
2. Close accounts you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
3. File a report with local police or the police in the community where the identity theft occurred. Obtain a copy of the report or, at least, the number of reports, to submit to your creditors and others who may require proof of a crime.
4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC manages a database of cases of identity theft cases used by agencies for law enforcement investigation. Lodge a complaint also helps officials learn more about identity theft and the problems victims experience so they can better assist you.
