identity theft, what can I do?

Question

I got a letter from the collection agency today about an account with cingular that I never had. It came to a total of $1,000. I don't really care about getting this guy because I know my chances are very slim. What can I do with Cingular. Can I change my ssn#? is there anything I can do at this point?

Answer 1

--10 MILLION people per year are victims of Identity Theft.

--Todays growing target for criminals; are children and teens identities (SS#). Why? Because parents never think to check/protect their childrens reports.

1) run a free credit report from each agency (your allowed one free one per year, per agency). you need to know, so you need to get them.
2) Check your childrens also (check the link below as to how to)
3) if ID Theft has occurred, you need to make a police report first. the rest of what you need to do, is listed in the links below (with GREAT info too).
4) some states allow you to 'lock' or 'freeze' credit reports; to protect against theft. if your state allows it, lock 'em down. that way, no one can open an account on them.
5) once you discover their credit reports have activity on them, then contact each credit reporting agency (the 3 major ones) and report the ID Theft... and request they lock the reports (usually they automatically do it, but ask for it anyway).

REMEMBER; you are only allowed to run credit reports on YOURSELF and YOUR MINOR CHILDREN (NO, not when they are adults).

To run a report on anyone else, they have to authorize it, and you better have proof of that authorization. If you do it without their knowledge, you are legally liable and they can not only report you to the state/federal authorities, but they may decide to sue you in a court of law.
http://www.ftc.gov/credit/
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/index.html

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2002/05/67fr36585.pdf
“…security or integrity of such records; and
protect against unauthorized access to
or use of such records or information
that could result in substantial harm or
inconvenience to any customer.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on
May 23, 2003.”


'Active Duty' Alerts Help Protect Military
Personnel from Identity Theft
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dutyalrt.htm



ID THEFT HELP/ INFO
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
http://www.ic3.gov/
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html
http://www.fraudguides.com/consumer-identity-theft-children.asp
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/
http://www.ncpc.org/media/current.php
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03
http://www.myidfix.com/
http://www.identitytheftassistance.org/index.html
http://identitytheftnow.com/


ORDERING CHILDRENS REPORTS
(yes, its free)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

ORDERING YOURS: ONLINE, PHONE, MAIL
(yes, its free)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/order

FAQ ABOUT CREDIT REPORTS
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

FAIR DEBT COLLECTION
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations-explained.html
EACH STATES SoL
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html
http://www.fair-credit-reporting.com/credit-laws/credit-reporting-periods.html

CAPITAL ONE
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?GT1=8885
Capital One refuses to report its customers' credit limits to the three major credit bureaus. Instead, the bureaus use the highest balance a customer has charged as a proxy for the limit.

As a result, the customers' all-important "debt utilization ratios" -- the portion of their available credit these borrowers are actually using -- can appear artificially high. That can depress borrowers' credit scores, the three-digit numbers lenders use to help determine creditworthiness.

Lower credit scores can mean higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans and other borrowing, as well as potentially higher insurance premiums, since many insurers also use credit-scoring systems to help gauge risk.


CREDIT REPORT INFO / REPAIRS / DISPUTES
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.htm
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0221.htm
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116b1.asp
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bankruptcy/20070313_credit_report_stains_a1.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.txt
http://bankrate.com/
http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

TO ORDER A FREE CREDIT REPORT
(all three are free once a year)

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
_______________
Experian
P.O. Box 19719
Irvine, CA 92623
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
_______________
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
1-800-916-8800


FIND YOUR REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

Answer 2

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

Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before open any new accounts...

Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit (PDF, 56KB) when disputing new unauthorized accounts...

File your complaint with the FTC. You may print a copy of your complaint to provide important standardized information for your police report...

File a report with your local police or police in the community where the identity theft took place. Give the police a copy of your FTC ID Theft complaint form. Get a copy of the police report (or, at least, the police report number)…

Answer 3

no -- but it is just like any other insurance -- you don't want to but it until you need it -- if you can afford it -- could be the best investment u ever made -- some i would not call a scam but maybe close to being shady business practice --- i only had one credit card discover -- works great in the states so i apply for a chase visa card since i am going to France and needed a MasterCard -- receive the card in two weeks credit limit of 25K --so far so good -- used it once to insure everything was OK and paid off balance when received my bill -- yesterday i get this letter from chase with a advertisement and a check -- now the check looks really great nothing unusual till you read the very find print at the top of the check "sign and cash this check to purchase the chase payment protector plan" not a scan and would be a legal contract if i use the check -- than you read the contract and if i would use my chase card like i use my discover it would cost about 23.00 a month for the protection!!!.

Answer 4

Nope they will not let you change your ssn.. But you can get a hold of the credit bureo and put a investigation and track this person down. People can go to jail for using someones indenty. Now with cingular i dont know if there is anything you can do. But i def reasearch it. Oh yea you can put a fraud alert on your credit file. Just call the credit ageny or look online at one of the agency and call them. I put a frad alert and no one can use your identy or if they try the credit agency will call you to see if it were you or knew about it.

Answer 5

I have a much easier way for you to resolve this. Email me.