i need help with knowing how to handle identity theft????

Answer 1

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements

Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do:

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you're entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports.

2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

3. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Get a copy of the report or at the very least, the number of the report, to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.

(More info at site listed below)

Answer 2

If you believe you're the victim of identy theft, the first thing you need to do right this minute is contact your credit card companies, bank and any other financial institution with which you have an account, mortgage, loan, etc. Even if all of your accounts are closed and transferred to a new number, continue to monitor your statements over the next month or so and report any suspicious charges.

I got the following information from my bank's Web site:

Call the fraud departments of all three credit bureaus (below). Ask them to put a "fraud alert" on your file. This tells creditors to call you before they open any more accounts in your name.

Equifax 1-800-525-6285
Experian 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

Contact your local police and ask to file a report. Even if the police can’t catch the identity thief, having a police report can help you in clearing up your credit records later on.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Call the FTC’s identity theft hotline toll-free at 1 (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338). The hotline is staffed by counselors trained to help victims and take their complaints. You may also file a complaint online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

Complete the identity theft affidavit, which will assist you in reporting to many companies that a new account has been open in your name. Obtain a copy of the identity theft affidavit by clicking the link below: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf.