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Next, Take Control
Although identity thieves can wreak havoc on your personal finances, there are
some things you can do to take control of the situation. Here's how to handle
some of the most common forms of identity theft.
If an identity thief has stolen your mail for access to new credit cards, bank and
credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers and tax information or falsified
change-of-address forms, (s)he has committed a crime. Report it to your local
postal inspector.
If you discover that an identity thief has changed the billing address on an existing
credit card account, close the account. When you open a new account, ask
that a password be used before any inquiries or changes can be made on the
account. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden
name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a
series of consecutive numbers. Avoid the same information and numbers when you
create a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
If you have reason to believe that an identity thief has accessed your bank
accounts, checking account or ATM card, close the accounts immediately. When
you open new accounts, insist on password-only access. If your checks have been
stolen or misused, stop payment. If your ATM card has been lost, stolen or otherwise
compromised, cancel the card and get another with a new PIN.
If an identity thief has established new phone or wireless service in your name and
is making unauthorized calls that appear to come from-and are billed to-your
cellular phone, or is using your calling card and PIN, contact your service provider
immediately to cancel the account and calling card. Get new accounts and new
PINs.
If it appears that someone is using your SSN when applying for a job, get in touch
with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify the accuracy of your reported
earnings and that your name is reported correctly. Call (800) 772-1213 to check
your Social Security Statement.
In addition, the SSA may issue you a new SSN at your request if, after trying to
resolve the problems brought on by identity theft, you continue to experience
problems. Consider this option carefully. A new SSN may not resolve your identity
theft problems, and may actually create new problems. For example, a new SSN
does not necessarily ensure a new credit record because credit bureaus may
combine the credit records from your old SSN with those from your new SSN. Even
when the old credit information is not associated with your new SSN, the absence
of any credit history under your new SSN may make it more difficult for you to get
credit. And finally, there's no guarantee that a new SSN wouldn't also be misused
by an identity thief.
If you suspect that your name or SSN is being used by an identity thief to get a
driver's license, report it to your Department of Motor Vehicles. Also, if your state
uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. |
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Stay Alert
Taking the steps outlined here should, in most cases, resolve your identity theft
problems, but identity theft or related credit problems may reoccur. Stay alert to
new instances of identity theft. Notify the company or creditor that's involved
immediately. Follow up in writing.
Order a copy of your credit report from the three credit bureaus every year to
check on their accuracy and whether they include only those debts and loans
you've incurred. This could be very important if you're considering a major
purchase, such as a house or a car. A credit bureau may charge you up to $8.50
for a copy of your report. |
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Complaint Clearinghouse
If you've been a victim of identity theft, file a complaint with the FTC by contact-
ing the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by telephone: toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338);
TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; Also ask for a copy of ID
Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name, a free comprehensive
consumer guide to help you guard against and recover from identity theft.
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For more information click here to go to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Homepage
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