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Free ID Theft Protection Tips and Assistance If An Identity Theft Victim
How do thieves survive? By preying upon people. So when people are struggling just to pay bills and cannot afford to buy the things which thieves would want to steal, then the thieves go shopping for themselves by using victims' credit cards and other lines of credit. It's like a thief's version of shopping wholesale without going through a middle-man.
But there's good news. Prevention and reporting have become easier. Identity theft is being detected earlier, which is reducing average losses. The cost per ID theft fell 31% to $496. Most identity theft is still existing account fraud (such as an ID thief gets the number on your already existing credit card), which is much easier to fix than new account fraud (where a thief opens a new credit card or loan account using your name). And every American now has the right to freeze credit reports, locking up the data so potential lenders can't see it, which subsequently prompts them to think twice or to simply reject credit approval. Another break-through, is that data breaches aren't secret anymore, thanks to laws in 44 states that require companies to disclose when people's private data have been compromised.
Nonetheless, Americans still must take ID theft protection steps.
In 2008, close to 10 million Americans were identity theft victims, up 22% from the previous year. And although it's been several years since Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act) to give ID theft victims more power to fight back, many victims can't get started reclaiming their identities because police departments won't allow them to file police reports to get lenders and credit bureaus to take the problem seriously. Without a police report, it can be difficult to clean up a credit report or to stop a lender from collection actions. Another problem victims face, is when businesses' refuse to share ID theft information. Victims often aren't allowed to see applications made for credit or withdrawals in their names, even though the information can help identify and stop a thief. The reason why some businesses won't reveal information regarding the thief, is due to privacy concerns enforced by the government.
Here are free ID theft protection tips, plus assistance information on what to do if you become an identity theft victim.
Victim of Identity Theft? If you are a victim, follow these steps immediately to reduce the monetary damage and your time spent cleaning your credit:
- Contact the three major credit reporting bureaus (contact info posted below), and request a fraud alert be placed on your credit file.
- Consider placing a security freeze on your credit report. A freeze can prevent new credit accounts being opened in your name by making your credit file off limits to potential lenders and creditors. Order a credit report from each bureau and examine it carefully for fraud. Some thiefs start off with small charges to 'test' the account, so catch theives early to limit damage. Continue to check your reports periodically to make sure no new fraud activity has occurred. Contact all creditors, starting with the accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Close those accounts, even if you yourself had originally opened them. When establishing new accounts, select new PIN numbers and passwords different from other accounts. File a police report, as you may need this documentation to prove the theft. Order copies of the police report to have on hand and to submit to creditors. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov, or through their toll-free Identity Theft Hotline at (877)438-4338.
Credit Report Bureau Contact Information
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Free Annual Credit Report call: (877)322-8228
Or write to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta , GA 30348-5281
www.annualcreditreport.com
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Equifax:
General Fraud Alert Information call: (888) 766-0008
www.equifax.com
To place a Fraud Alert call: (800) 525-6285
Or write to:
Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta , GA 30348
Inquiries about child identity theft write to:
Equifax:
P.O. Box 105139
Atlanta , GA 30348
Inquiries about deceased love ones credit reports write to:
Equifax:
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta , GA 30348
Opt-out of mailing list call: (888) 567-8688
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Experian :
General Information call: (888)397-3742
www.experian.com
To place a Fraud Alert call: (888) 397-3742
Or write to:
Experian
P.O. Box 9701
Allen , TX 75013-0949
Inquires about child identity theft write to:
Experian
PO Box 9532
Allen , TX 75013
Inquiries about deceased love ones credit reports write to:
Experian
P.O. Box 9595
Allen , TX 75013
To Opt-out call: (888) 5OPTOUT ( 888 567 8688.)
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Trans Union:
General Information call: (800) 916-8800
www.transunion.com
To place a Fraud Alert call: (800) 680-7289
Or write to:
Trans Union
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton , Ca 92834
Fraud victims can also email fvad@transunion.com but we recommend that you do not send Social Security numbers via email if avoidable.
Inquiries about child identity theft write to:
Trans Union
PO Box 6790
Fullerton , CA 92834
Parents/legal guardians can also email childidtheft@transunion.com to get a yes or no answer, but we recommend that you do not send Social Security numbers via email if avoidable.
Inquiries about deceased love ones credit reports write to:
Trans Union
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton , Ca 92834
Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit or insurance: 1-888-567-8688
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ID Theft and Fraud Protection Tips
- Keep your personal information secure and private. Your bank or credit card company won't call or email you to ask for your account information, nor will they call you for you to verify your account information, nor to verify or to change your login, password, etc. The only time they will ask you this information, is when YOU call THEM.
- Keep an inventory of everything in your wallet and your PDA, including account numbers.
- Don't keep your Social Security card or any card with your Social Security number, such as an insurance card, in your wallet.
- Order and review your credit report. You are allowed one free credit report copy each year from each of the three major credit agencies.
- Opt Out to stop credit card offers and other bank loan offers from coming in the mail.
- Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized use. Thieves typically start off with small charges to see if you'll notice. The sooner you catch them the better and easier for you to clear your name.
- Keep your vehicle registration and insurance forms in a sealed envelope and locked inside your glove box with your car doors locked.
- If you conduct business online, use your own computer. A public computer is less secure because it is shared and often is a wireless Internet.
- Look for suspicious devices and don't let anyone stand nearby when you use an ATM. Take your card and receipt with you. Keep your PIN in your head, not in your wallet or written on your card.
- Don't store credit card numbers and other financial information on your cell phone.
- If you're job hunting using resume Web sites, don't apply unless the employer has a verifiable address, a privacy policy and a secure website.
- Once you no longer need them, shred bills and statements that contain your personal information.
Free Computer Tips to Prevent Fraud, Scams and ID Theft:
- Keep your computer software and browser up to date and set to the highest security level possible.
- Install antivirus, antispyware and firewall protection from legitimate resources (not second-hand or shared software, and not software from unknown companies). Keep the software updated. When possible, use hardware firewalls, often available through your broadband connection router.
- If you use wireless Internet access, get help from an expert who understands wireless security when setting up your access point or router.
- Back up your data and store it somewhere other than on your computer harddrive.
- Don't open emails from strangers, or even from well-known companies that you did not specifically request information from. Anyone can fake an email address, so it may not be the actual company emailing you. The reason why emails are dangerous, is because malware can be hidden in embedded attachments and graphics files.
- Don't open attachments unless you know who sent them (and you had specifically requested them to send you an attachment) and you know what it contains.
- Never open executable attachments. Configure Windows so that the file extensions of known file types are not hidden.
- Never click on popups. Configure Windows or your Web browser to block them.
- Don't provide your credit card number online unless you are making a purchase from a Web site you trust. To input your banking information, reputable sites will always have a secure page with a URL starting with https:// (NOTE: the URL has an 's' right after the 'p' and before the ':', as in https:// instead of http://).
- Use complicated passwords, at least six characters and which include at least one symbol and number, and no reference to your name or other personal information. A strong password; for example, would be something like a9j-7tk4.
- Use a different password for every site that requires one, and change passwords regularly.
- Never send a user name, password or other confidential information via email.
- Consider turning off your computer when you're not using it or at least putting it in standby mode.
- Don't store passwords, tax returns or other financial information on your hard drive.
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