Free tips on how to protect against and to report ex-spouse credit fraud and identity theft.
While married, your spouse likely had full access to all of your personal information... your Social Security Number, date of birth, mother's maiden name... all the essentials necessary to commit credit fraud through identity theft.
Of course you can place a credit report freeze to protect against ex-spouse credit fraud, but what do you do if your spouse stole your identity already and got credit or joint credit in your name? What if you're not sure, but suspect spouse identity theft?
Order credit reports from all three major credit report bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian) to check if you have already been a victim of ex-spouse identity theft. And remember, you're entitled to an annual free credit report from the bureaus.
Look for new credit opened in your name and/or joint credit in your and your ex's name. If you find evidence of spouse credit fraud, do the following immediately:
- Get the names of every loan and credit card company that gave credit to your ex-spouse using your name solely or jointly without your permission. Since the credit is in your name (or a joint account), that information should be on your credit reports. Get the account numbers and copies of all statements issued by the creditor(s).
- Get a copy of the credit application submitted by your ex-spouse.
- Go to the police and file an identity theft report.
- Contact the fraud departments of the creditors. Send them copies of the police report (or a reference number). Get a hold of the fraud department and say that the application wasn't from you and that you never authorized your name to be used, and that you're filing charges. If the creditor states you have to pay the debt anyway, keep fighting.
To prevent this from happening again, sign up for a 90-day fraud alert at the credit bureaus. With the fraud alerts in place, the creditor has to call you at number you provide. If you provide the credit bureaus with a police report, they will place an extended fraud alert for seven years so no one can open any account, not even utilities, in your name without contacting you by phone.Placing a fraud alert (credit freeze) is easy. You can place one by calling just one of the three major credit reporting agencies. The agency you call will notify the other two, and all three will place fraud alerts.
- Equifax: (877) 576-5734 www.alerts.equifax.com
- Experian: (888) 397-3742 www.experian.com/fraud
- TransUnion: (800) 680-7289 www.transunion.com
Here are more free tips about spouse credit:Extra Joint Spouse Credit CardsWho Pays Joint Spouse DebtJoint Spouse Credit TipsSpouse Died with Credit Billswww.SpouseCreditFraud.comwww.SpouseIdentityTheft.com
