What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen

Here’s a checklist of the steps you need to take if you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Identity theft is a growing national epidemic, claiming about 500,000 victims per year in the United States. Despite the mounting number of victims, many people remain unaware of how to respond to identity theft. If you believe that you are a victim of identity theft or fear that you may become one — for example, you lost your wallet or gave personal information to a stranger — take these steps immediately.

1. Start a log. As you make phone calls or send letters, keep notes of your conversations and correspondence with authorities and financial institutions, including dates, names, and phone numbers. Also keep track of all time spent and expenses you incur; you can deduct theft-related expenses on your income tax return, assuming you itemize deductions, and you may be able to seek compensation if you are ever able to sue the thief.

2. Contact the credit bureaus. Call or visit the websites of the three major credit bureaus and ask that they issue a fraud alert and attach a statement to your credit report.

Equifax: 800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
Experian: 888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
TransUnion: 800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com

Also, get copies of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. You can request that the credit reports be free because you believe they contain inaccurate information due to fraud. The credit bureaus may issue one of the following types of alerts (note that for any alert you will need to submit proof of identity, which may include your Social Security number).

3. Review your credit reports. After you receive your credit reports from the three credit bureaus, review them thoroughly. Make sure that all your personal information, including name, address, and Social Security number, is correct and that there are no fraudulent accounts or inquiries. Look for accounts that you didn’t apply for or open, inquiries that you didn’t initiate, and defaults and delinquencies that you didn’t cause. Immediately report any suspicious information or activity to the credit bureau that issued the credit report.

4. Call the police. File a report of the crime with your local police department. Provide as much evidence as you can, and ask the officer to list all fraudulently accessed accounts that you know about on the police report. Be sure to get copies of the police report, because creditors will probably ask to see them. Remember to log the phone numbers and names of all the law enforcement agents that you speak to; creditors may want this information.

5. Fill out an identity theft affidavit. The identity theft affidavit form is available from the Federal Trade Commission website. Creditors may accept this affidavit when you claim that you are not responsible for a new account or for transactions on an existing account. The information that you provide will enable the creditor to investigate your claim. (The creditor may require you to submit additional information or a different form.) This affidavit also will be useful if you request copies of the thief’s application and transaction records

6. Follow the instructions that accompany the affidavit. Remember to send the completed affidavit by certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep the originals of any supporting documents.