Identity Theft - Credit Fraud Kit

To download the complete Identity Theft Kit Packet Please click here

Identity Theft - Credit Fraud Kit

What is Identity Theft?

Identity Theft is when someone uses someone else’s personal identifying information for illegal purposes. The illegal purpose often involves acquiring goods and services and/or obtaining credit in the victim’s name. ID Theft can be as simple as illegally using another’s credit card for fraudulent purchases, or it can be more complex where the Identity Thief uses another’s personal information to apply for and obtain new credit, for example, for a new credit card or home loan. Unfortunately the illegal purpose may be committed over long periods of time before the victim even discovers the fraud.

What do Identity Thieves look for?

There are many sources of information that criminals use to steal your identity. Your purse or wallet usually includes your driver’s license and credit cards. Your garbage may include discarded credit card bills, unsolicited applications for credit, cancelled checks, bank statements and other revealing mail, some of which may have reference to your social security number and other personal information. So it is obviously important that you safeguard all your personal information so that it does not fall into the hands of a criminal.

How to Guard Against Identity Theft and Credit Fraud

1. Review your credit reports semi-annually from all three national credit bureau systems to check your credit profile for discrepancies or unusual activity.

2. Reduce the amount of personal information you carry. Normally you should not carry your Social Security Card or birth certificate with you.

3. Limit the number of credit cards you carry.

4. Memorize your passwords or PIN numbers. Avoid the use of passwords such as birth dates, address, and phone numbers that may be easy to guess.

5. Keep a record of all your important credit and bank account information in case you need that information quickly.

6. Limit the use of your Social Security Number. Do not print this number on your checks or driver’s license.

7. If you have lost credit cards or checks, or have had them stolen, contact the creditors and banks involved immediately to cancel the old account numbers and have them replaced with new accounts.

How to Restore Your Credit if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft or Credit Fraud

If you are a victim of identity theft or credit fraud there are some steps you can take to restore and protect your credit.

1. Request a copy of your credit report from all three national credit bureau systems (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union). Victims of credit fraud can obtain a free copy of their credit report directly from the 3 national credit bureaus. Their addresses and phone numbers are listed below.

2. Identify all the activity on your credit reports that you believe to be fraudulent. Look for aliases and addresses on your report that are unknown to you, or accounts you do not remember opening, and carefully check inquiries into your credit that you did not initiate.

3. Dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information on your credit report with the credit bureau reporting the information. Below is a sample dispute form.

4. Add protective “fraud” statements to your credit record at all three national credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Fraud statements on your credit report warn potential users of your credit report that you may be or have been a victim of identity fraud. The credit bureau addresses and phone numbers are below.

5. Contact your local law enforcement to file a police report on the fraudulent activity and request a case number.

6. Complete the ID Theft Affidavit developed by the Federal Trade Commission. This document can be used to help prove you are not responsible for debts created by the identity thief. A copy of the ID Theft Affidavit is below.

7. Contact the credit grantors/companies that issued the fraudulent credit. You may need to provide information to them including the police report, a copy of your driver’s license, and other documents that confirm the fraud including a copy of the ID Theft Affidavit.. Keep phone and letter documentation so you have a record of who you talked to, when, and what company. Make sure you request written letters from the credit grantors and credit reporting agencies that fraud has been verified.

8. To assist law enforcement in tracking ID Theft, consider filing an Identity Theft Complaint report online with the Federal Trade Commission - Click Here.

9. If you suspect your SSN has been used, contact the Social Security Administration to protect your benefits. 1.800.269.0271

10. Don’t forget to change your bank account number if your checks have been stolen or you suspect that criminals have your account numbers.

Useful links for more Identity Theft information:

More Creditreporting.com topics and information on ID Theft, - Click Here.

Federal Trade Commission’s booklet “ID Theft – What to do when bad things happen to your name” – Click Here.

Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Affidavit – Click Here.

Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Complaint form – Click Here.

To download the complete Identity Theft Kit Packet Please click here
(PDF file format)