Identity Theft Reporting – First Steps
The internet and mobile technologies have made information accessible on a level that couldn’t have even been conceived just a few short decades ago. Now, instead of having to get in your car and drive all the way to the store or shopping mall to examine or price a new product, you can simply get online and perform a half-second search. Instead of having to make it down to the bank by five o’clock on a Friday to make a transfer, withdrawal or get a balance on your account, you can simply access your account online. The only drawback of all these technologies is that they put more and more of your personal information within reach of identity thieves who can use it for their own purposes. As a consumer, you should be educated about identity theft reporting, including the necessary first steps if you think someone has stolen your identity.
Looking at an online bank statement and realizing that some of the charges were not made by you or your spouse can be a terrifying time. You’ll feel violated and insecure, wondering how it could have been so easy for someone to gain access to your social security number, birth date, address and other sensitive information. As soon as you suspect that your identity has been stolen is the best time to start the identity theft reporting process. The first phone call that you should make will be to the police. If you are travelling when the fraud occurs, be sure to report the offense to the local authorities first.
Once you’ve contacted the local authorities, you might want to continue your identity theft reporting by filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission. This is the best way to get details of your identity theft situation out to police departments and other law enforcement agencies around the country.
You also want to place a fraud alert on your credit report with one of the three major consumer reporting agencies. You only have to contact one of the agencies and they will contact the other two. Placing a fraud alert on your credit report will help prevent the identity thief from opening any accounts under your name. Also by placing the fraud alert, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from all three of the credit reporting companies. Get your credit report and check it carefully for anything suspicious.
When you are completing your identity theft reporting checklist, don’t forget to inform the financial institution that is associated with the account that has been compromised. Every major bank and credit card company has a security and fraud department, and these people will be able to change numbers and access information immediately so that the identity thieves will lose access to your money. Although you may be able to arrange the freezing of your accounts over the phone, it is essential that you also file a report with them in writing. Be sure to ask the representative what information needs to be included in the report.
Finally, along with these first steps, you need to keep a record of everything that you do to as it pertains to your identity theft case. Keep track of who you talk to, when, what was said and copies of any correspondence that you receive or send.
