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Identity Theft Information |
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Identity Theft Information
Facts About Identity Theft
Identity theft is a growing crime that affects many hundreds of thousands of citizens each year. How can you help protect yourself from this serious crime and its devastating effects?
Deter
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- Shred financial documents
- Protect your social security number
- Don't give out personal information unless you are dealing with a trusted source
- Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails
- Don't use an obvious password
- Keep your personal information in a secure place
Detect
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- Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
- Bills that do not arrive as expected
- Unexpected credit cards or account statements
- Denials of credit for no apparent reason
- Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
- Charges on your financial statements that you don't recognize
- Inspect your credit report - law requires the major nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months if you ask for it. These three companies have created a service to order your free annual credit report:
Defend
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review the reports carefully
- Equifax: 800-525-6285
- Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
- TransUnion: 800-680-7289
- Contact the security or fraud departments of each company in which you have an account
- File a police report
- Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is a terrific resource and reporting center for Identity Theft and other Consumer Fraud. For additional information, contact the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearinghouse:
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