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Consumer
& Debt
Family
Law
Housing
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Frequently Asked Questions
& General Information Sources
What Should I Do If My Identity
is Stolen?
by: Texas RioGrande
Legal Aid
If you are a victim
of identity theft, take the following steps immediately
and keep a record of all conversations, dates, time,
names, and telephone numbers. For every person or
business you contact by telephone, follow up with
a letter.
- Call the three credit reporting bureaus to
place a "fraud alert" on your name
and Social Security number.
Equifax– Report fraud at 800-525-6285,
or Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374. Get a copy
of your credit report at 800-685-1111, or Box
74241, Atlanta, GA 30374 orwww.equifax.com.
Experian– Report fraud at 888-397-3742,
or Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013. Obtain a copy
of your credit report at 888-397-3742, or Box
2104, Allen, TX 75013 orwww.experian.com/consumer
Transunion– Report fraud at 800-680-7289,
or Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634. Obtain a copy
of your credit report at 800-888-4213 or Box
390, Springfield, PA 19064 or www.tuc.com
Order credit reports from the bureaus when you
call. They must provide them free if you have
been a victim of identity theft and make your
request in writing.
Follow up your calls in writing. Your main message,
both on the phone and in writing is:
"My identification has been or may be used
to apply for credit fraudulently. Contact me
by phone (give them your number) to verify all
applications."
- Download the ID Theft Affidavit on this page
and fill it out (or go to www.consumer.gov/idtheft).
- Fill out the Fraudulent Account Statement
that is with the ID Theft Affidavit for each
bank and creditor. You will need a separate
Fraudulent Account Statement for each bank and
creditor that you are going to contact because
each one needs the separate account number.
- Call your local police department. Ask them
to take a report, and either give you a copy
of the report or its number. Get the name of
the police officer you talk to. The police report
is necessary to show to credit reporting bureaus,
banks and credit card companies that you were
careful to prevent fraud. Give the police department
a copy of your completed theft affidavit.
- Send the ID Theft Affidavit and Fraudulent
Account Statement to each creditor, bank or
company where the thief used your identity.
The Fraudulent Account Statement should have
only the information needed by each specific
company where you are sending it. Send them
by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Do this now.
- Contact all your creditors by telephone (use
the "billing inquiries" numbers on
your statements) and in writing and tell them
about the fraud. Get new cards with new account
numbers. Tell them to process your old accounts
as "closed at consumer’s request."
Find out what documentation, such as the police
report and/or the ID Theft Affidavit, they need
and then send it to them.
- Contact anyone to whom you might have written
checks who have not cashed them yet, explain
the situation and arrange another way or another
time to pay.
- Watch your mail and credit card bills for
evidence of new fraud. Within 60 days of a fraudulent
billing, you can make a written dispute about
the charges.
- Do not pay any bill or portion of a bill
which is a result of identity theft. Do not
cover any checks which were written and/or cashed
fraudulently. Do not file bankruptcy. Your credit
rating should not be permanently affected, and
no legal action should be taken against you.
If any merchant, bank, credit card company,
or collection agency suggests otherwise, simply
restate your willingness to cooperate, but don’t
let yourself be bullied into paying fraudulent
bills.
- Avoid any companies that offer to "repair
your credit" for you. If you want it done
right, do it yourself.
- Alert the phone company and utility companies
that someone might try to open a new account
in your name. Again, the drill is the same–phone
call, followed up in writing.
- Report the incident to the Federal Trade
Commission identity theft hotline: 1-877-438-4338,
or www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
There are about 1,500 calls a week to the hotline.
For information on credit laws, call 202-326-2222.
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