How to deal with identity theft

  • Published
  • By Capt. Wendy Whitt Rader, Staff Judge Advocate
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
Identity theft occurs whenever an unauthorized individual uses your personal information (name, social security number, credit card or bank numbers) to open new accounts or charge merchandise in your name without your permission. 

For those individuals who are unfortunate enough to be a victim, it could ruin their credit ratings and their sanity. If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft or fraud, act quickly to minimize the damage. Here are some steps you need to follow:

1. Credit Bureaus. Immediately call the three major credit reporting companies (Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union) and ask that your account be flagged. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to add a 100-word statement to your report and mandates that the credit reporting bureaus review and investigate your allegations of error and return the findings within 30 days. The following are websites for each of the three major credit-reporting bureaus: 

http://www.transunion.com
http://www.experian.com
http://www.equifax.com 

2. Creditors. Contact all creditors with whom your name has been used fraudulently by phone and in writing. Cancel each credit card and get new cards with new account numbers. Ask that your accounts be processed as “account closed at consumer’s request.” Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. 

3. Banks. Report the loss of bank account information, including account numbers, ATM cards, or checks, to your bank. Cancel ATM cards and lost checks, and request a new PIN. 

4. Law Enforcement. Report the crime to all police and sheriff’s departments with jurisdiction in your case. Give them as much documented evidence as possible, and get a copy of your police report. Credit card companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to verify the crime. 

5. Social Security Number Misuse. Contact the Social Security Administration to report fraudulent use of your Social Security number. You can file an electronic fraud report at www.ssa.gov. 

Do not pay any bill or portion of a bill that is the result of identity theft. Do not cover any checks that were written and/or cashed fraudulently. Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal action should be taken against you.