"Identity Theft", can I be Helped?

Question

The theif has purchased a home and some cars in my name; and to make matters worse they've even got the " free credit" report, now what am I to do

Answer 1

I have been there, I know how aggravating it is to deal with it. You must follow these steps and you will eventually resolve the issues at hand.

This is what worked for me:

Check out this page: http://www.expert-credit-advice.com/identity_theft.htm

1. Place a fraud alert by calling 1 888 397 3742 and Experian will share the fraud alert with all 3 bureaus.

2. File a police report, this is imperative to prove to the creditors that are involved that you mean business.

3. Obtain your credit report, (not your free one) just buy one!

4. Contact all creditors on your reports that are not familiar that may be part of the id theft and tell them that you have filed a police report and want them to comply and send the appropriate documentation to resolve the id theft issues.

5. Send each creditor a signed or notarized affadevit (sp?), police report, and any other clues or documents you have to help catch the villan that is doing this too you.


With time and persistance you can get it all squared away.


You can call them at 1 800 315 0740, they are great! You'll see.

Answer 2

Go deep within yourself. There are a few ways to do this: You could try some free form writing by just writing in no paticular structure or order words until you get the answer to your question. You could think really hard about all the roles you have in life (ie: son, boyfriend, student, ect.) and define yourself that way. You could go without food, water or sleep for about 24 hours and wander off into the woods to have a spirit quest.

Answer 3

**you need to immediatly call all the credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on that and if you know the mortgage company you want to let them know too and then call all your credit card companies put a fraud alert on that all credit card acct of yours need to change the credit card numbers and dispute what is not yours then this is very very important call the car finance too***CALL THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE AND TALK TO THEM ABT WHAT HAPPENED AND SEE IF YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD NUMBER****and you have to do this as soon as possible this is very bad if you dont take action then you will be liable for all they have purchased....take care

Answer 4

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. 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.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

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. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

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

Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.

When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or on fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:

• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn't have special forms, use the sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for "billing inquiries," NOT the address for sending your payments.

• For new unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56 KB). If not, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company already has reported these accounts or debts on your credit report, dispute this fraudulent information. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how.

Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.

3. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Then, get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General's office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims' complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.

You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form; or call the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.

Be sure to call the Hotline to update your complaint if you have any additional information or problems.

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How do I prove that I'm an identity theft victim?

Applications or other transaction records related to the theft of your identity may help you prove that you are a victim. For example, you may be able to show that the signature on an application is not yours. These documents also may contain information about the identity thief that is valuable to law enforcement. By law, companies must give you a copy of the application or other business transaction records relating to your identity theft if you submit your request in writing. Be sure to ask the company representative where you should mail your request. Companies must provide these records at no charge to you within 30 days of receipt of your request and your supporting documents. You also may give permission to any law enforcement agency to get these records, or ask in your written request that a copy of these records be sent to a particular law enforcement officer.

The company can ask you for:

• proof of your identity. This may be a photocopy of a government-issued ID card, the same type of information the identity thief used to open or access the account, or the type of information the company usually requests from applicants or customers

check out this site for more info.
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm#steps

Answer 5

This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the
crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help
you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs:

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

This site also is a comprehensive reference center – for
consumers, businesses, law enforcement, and the media –
with access to specific laws, contact information, and resources
from state and federal government agencies.

Identity theft is a serious crime. How does it happen?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal
information without your permission to commit fraud or other
crimes. While you can't entirely control whether you will become
a victim, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk.

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. Use the ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56 KB) when disputing new unauthorized accounts.

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.

View or print an easy-to-follow brochure on how to Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. For more in-depth information on recovering from identity theft and help with specific problems, read Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft.

Security Nightmares

Identity theft is quickly becoming the Internets worst security nightmare. What is an identity and how could it get stolen you may ask? In the simplest terms, an identity is some method that verifies that you are the person you say you are. Identity is the distinguishing attributes that only you can provide to authenticate yourself. It can be a set of numbers, such as a Social Security number or something more complex like an encrypted key. This key or set of numbers associates you with a certain set of attributes that contains information about you. The information might be your email address, your name, PIN number, your username, password or credit card number. If this information is well protected, it can make your Internet experience easier by identifying you to certain sites and services on the Internet.


Now think about what could happen if somebody stole your identity. Someone could open new charge accounts, order merchandise or borrow money using your identity. Consumers targeted by identity thieves usually do not know they have been victimized until collection agencies pursue them to pay accounts they did not even know they had, or they are denied credit because of unpaid debts run up by the criminals. Nightmare isn't it.


Identity theft happens more often than you may think. According to the National Association of the Attorneys General identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation with an estimated 700,000 victims each year. The average victim spent $808 to clear up discrepancies related to identity theft in the year 2000. On average, a victim of identity theft spent 175 hours restoring their reputation by notifying credit bureaus, canceling credit cards and negotiating with creditors in the year 2000. In This year those numbers have skyrocketed to $1,495 in out of pocket expenses and an average of 609 hours to clean up their credit. Don't let this happen to you. There are many ways to protect yourself from identity theft. The following are a few best practice guidelines to follow.

1. Always protect your personal information.
Only share your credit card, social security number or other personal information when making purchases from a company or financial institution that you know and trust.

2. Never send personal information to email requests.
Beware of "Phishing" scams. Phishing is a term used to describe what the scammers do to try to get your personal information by sending you an official looking email asking for your personal information. See an example here. You should never be asked for a password, credit card number or social security number from a legitimate source via email. Beware official-sounding notices that require you to "give up" your personal information due to supposedly dire consequences.

3. Verify any transaction.
If a Web site address looks different from the name of the organization that you're dealing with or if you have doubts about your transaction, look for a phone number on the Web site and call the organization to verify that the Web site is valid. Don't deal with any financial organization that doesn't clearly state its name, physical address and phone number on its Web site.

4. Catch identity theft early
Sometimes an ID thief can strike even if you have been very careful. One of the best ways to catch identity theft is to check your credit report. The FTC advises monitoring your Credit Report activity on all three major credit bureaus. You can order your free 3-bureau report from ICreditReports.com any time, day or night. It is advised that this is done each year and make sure all of the information is correct. Also, follow up with creditors if your bills do not arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed the billing address to cover his tracks.

What to do if Identity Theft has already happened to you:
1. Call your local law enforcement agency and file a report. Get a copy of the report for your records.
2. Get a copy of your credit report for your records.
3. The Identity Theft Resource Center has made a very comprehensive Victim Guide that walks you through the steps you need to take.
Read the Identity Theft Victim Guide here.


Even if you take all of the necessary precautions you are still at risk if your computer isn't properly protected. Hackers randomly barrage Internet connected PCs with "pings" or "port scans", probing to find unprotected PCs. Once found, a hacker can compromise your PC with a dangerous Trojan horse or malicious worm. They can also access all of your credit card numbers and passwords that you have used or stored on your computer. They can take control of your computer and delete system files so you have to reinstall everything. Or they could just get curious and just look at all of your personal stuff. They can even use a keystroke program and see exactly what you are doing. In reality, any personal computer connected to the Internet is a potential target without the proper security measures in place.


But there is help. You need a firewall to block potential hackers from attacking your system and stealing your vital information. Here is a resource site called Mcafee Security and another called Identity Guard that are totally dedicated to protecting you and your computer from Identity theft. Remember, the Internet is a dangerous place. Hackers are constantly looking for ways to steal your passwords, credit card info and your identity. And because your home PC is exposed to hacker threats every time you connect to the Internet, you are at risk. Scary isn't it? Follow me>>

some ****** charged up $3000 on one of my credit cards that was EXPIRED already!!! i got a new credit card to replace the expired one but i never activated it. i'm actually really pissed off at my credit card company (citibank) that they allow people to actually use the card for anything and everything but in person purchase charges without activating the damn card.. mutha******. well, they already took care of the fraudulent charges already and otherwise my account is clean. gotta go to the bank now to close my checking account and open a new one as a precautionary measure just in case this scumbag has any other info of mine then go file a police report tomorrow after i receive all the documentation on the charges. ing .


check your credit history and make sure there wasn't any other identity crimes on file.

you can check it for free up to 3 times a year:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
What Can I Do About Identity Theft And Fraud?



To victims of identity theft and fraud, the task of correcting incorrect information about their financial or personal status, and trying to restore their good names and reputations, may seem as daunting as trying to solve a puzzle in which some of the pieces are missing and other pieces no longer fit as they once did. Unfortunately, the damage that criminals do in stealing another person's identity and using it to commit fraud often takes far longer to undo than it took the criminal to commit the crimes.




What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft?
To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some basic steps you can take. For starters, just remember the word "SCAM":
S Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are:

At Home.

Start by adopting a "need to know" approach to your personal data. Your credit card company may need to know your mother's maiden name, so that it can verify your identity when you call to inquire about your account. A person who calls you and says he's from your bank, however, doesn't need to know that information if it's already on file with your bank; the only purpose of such a call is to acquire that information for that person's personal benefit. Also, the more information that you have printed on your personal bank checks -- such as your Social Security number or home telephone number -- the more personal data you are routinely handing out to people who may not need that information.

If someone you don't know calls you on the telephone and offers you the chance to receive a "major" credit card, a prize, or other valuable item, but asks you for personal data -- such as your Social Security number, credit card number or expiration date, or mother's maiden name -- ask them to send you a written application form.

If they won't do it, tell them you're not interested and hang up.

If they will, review the application carefully when you receive it and make sure it's going to a company or financial institution that's well-known and reputable. The Better Business Bureau can give you information about businesses that have been the subject of complaints.
On Travel.
If you're traveling, have your mail held at your local post office, or ask someone you know well and trust ­ another family member, a friend, or a neighbor ­ to collect and hold your mail while you're away.
If you have to telephone someone while you're traveling, and need to pass on personal financial information to the person you're calling, don't do it at an open telephone booth where passersby can listen in on what you're saying; use a telephone booth where you can close the door, or wait until you're at a less public location to call.
C Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what shouldn't:
What Should Be There.

If you have bank or credit card accounts, you should be receiving monthly statements that list transactions for the most recent month or reporting period.
If you're not receiving monthly statements for the accounts you know you have, call the financial institution or credit card company immediately and ask about it.
If you're told that your statements are being mailed to another address that you haven't authorized, tell the financial institution or credit card representative immediately that you did not authorize the change of address and that someone may be improperly using your accounts. In that situation, you should also ask for copies of all statements and debit or charge transactions that have occurred since the last statement you received. Obtaining those copies will help you to work with the financial institution or credit card company in determining whether some or all of those debit or charge transactions were fraudulent.

What Shouldn't Be There.

If someone has gotten your financial data and made unauthorized debits or charges against your financial accounts, checking your monthly statements carefully may be the quickest way for you to find out. Too many of us give those statements, or the enclosed checks or credit transactions, only a quick glance, and don't review them closely to make sure there are no unauthorized withdrawals or charges.
If someone has managed to get access to your mail or other personal data, and opened any credit cards in your name or taken any funds from your bank account, contact your financial institution or credit card company immediately to report those transactions and to request further action.

A Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report.

Your credit report should list all bank and financial accounts under your name, and will provide other indications of whether someone has wrongfully opened or used any accounts in your name.

M Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.

Even though financial institutions are required to maintain copies of your checks, debit transactions, and similar transactions for five years, you should retain your monthly statements and checks for at least one year, if not more. If you need to dispute a particular check or transaction ­ especially if they purport to bear your signatures ­ your original records will be more immediately accessible and useful to the institutions that you have contacted.

Even if you take all of these steps, however, it's still possible that you can become a victim of identity theft. Records containing your personal data -- credit-card receipts or car-rental agreements, for example -- may be found by or shared with someone who decides to use your data for fraudulent purposes.


What Should I Do If I've Become A Victim Of Identity Theft?
If you think you've become a victim of identity theft or fraud, act immediately to minimize the damage to your personal funds and financial accounts, as well as your reputation. Here's a list -- based in part on a checklist prepared by the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse -- of some actions that you should take right away:
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the situation, whether --
Online,
By telephone toll-free at 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338) or TDD at 202-326-2502, or
By mail to Consumer Response Center, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.
Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act , the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for receiving and processing complaints from people who believe they may be victims of identity theft, providing informational materials to those people, and referring those complaints to appropriate entities, including the major credit reporting agencies and law enforcement agencies. For further information, please check the FTC's identity theft Web pages . You can also call your local office of the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service to report crimes relating to identity theft and fraud.
You may also need to contact other agencies for other types of identity theft:

Your local office of the Postal Inspection Service if you suspect that an identity thief has submitted a change-of-address form with the Post Office to redirect your mail, or has used the mail to commit frauds involving your identity;
The Social Security Administration if you suspect that your Social Security number is being fraudulently used (call 800-269-0271 to report the fraud);
The Internal Revenue ServiceIf you suspect the improper use of identification information in connection with tax violations (call 1-800-829-0433 to report the violations).
Call the fraud units of the three principal credit reporting companies:
Equifax:

To report fraud, call [phone] or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250.
To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241, or call [phone].
To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit, call [phone] or write to Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta GA 30374-0123.
Experian (formerly TRW)
To report fraud, call (888) EXPERIAN or [phone], fax to [phone], or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013.
To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states): P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013, or call (888) EXPERIAN.
To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call [phone] or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O. Box 919, Allen, TX 75013.
Trans Union
To report fraud, call [phone] or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.
To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064 or call: [phone].
To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call [phone] or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39238.

Contact all creditors with whom your name or identifying data have been fraudulently used. For example, you may need to contact your long-distance telephone company if your long-distance calling card has been stolen or you find fraudulent charges on your bill.
Contact all financial institutions where you have accounts that an identity thief has taken over or that have been created in your name but without your knowledge. You may need to cancel those accounts, place stop-payment orders on any outstanding checks that may not have cleared, and change your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, account, and Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Contact the major check verification companies (listed in the CalPIRG-Privacy Rights Clearinghouse checklist) if you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up by an identity thief. In particular, if you know that a particular merchant has received a check stolen from you, contact the verification company that the merchant uses:

CheckRite -- [phone]
ChexSystems -- [phone] (closed checking accounts)
CrossCheck -- [phone]
Equifax -- [phone]
National Processing Co. (NPC) -- [phone]
SCAN -- [phone]
TeleCheck -- [phone]

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Where Can I Find Out More About Identity Theft And Fraud?


A number of government and private organizations have information about various aspects of identity theft and fraud: how it can occur, what you can do about it, and how to guard your privacy. To help you learn more about the problem and its solutions, we've attached a list of Web sites that you might find interesting and informative on identity theft and related topics.

[Note: All Web sites to which these pages cross-link are included as a service for the reader. Cross-links to non-governmental sites do not constitute an endorsement or approval of their content, or of the organizations responsible for that content, by the Department of Justice.]

Government

United States:

California Department of Consumer Affairs
Consumer.gov
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Trade Commission - Congressional Testimony
Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Alert
United States Postal Inspection Service
United States Secret Service
Canada: Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner

Non-Government

United States:

American Association of Retired Persons
Better Business Bureau - Alert
Better Business Bureau -- Eastern Massachusetts/Maine/Vermont
CalPIRG
Center for Democracy and Technology
National Association of Attorneys General
National Consumers League
National Fraud Information Center
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
* * *




Credits: Text - Fraud Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice; Images - Copyright: Corel

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