Information and Tools Against Identity Theft

YES, YOU CAN Stop Annoying Sales Calls & Junk Mail! The National "Do Not Call" Registry You can register your phone (including cell phone) numbers on this website to add them to the "do-not-call" list. It's very easy -- just put in the telephone numbers you want to have removed and your e-mail address. Stop junk mail! To stop most of your junk mail, write to: Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association Attn: Department 11630860 PO Box 282 Carmel, NY 10512. Contacts and Resources Equifax www.equifax.com PO Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30349 (800) 525-6285 Experian P.O. Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013 www.experian.com TransUnion www.transunion.com PO Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634 (800) 680-7289 If your efforts to have inaccurate information removed from your credit report fail, make sure to copy this Consumer Rights Organization on all your communications with the credit card and credit reporting agencies: Consumer Response Center -- FCRA Federal Trade Commission Washington, D.C. 20580 Last resort: communicate directly with them ... Helpful Links FCRA Information : Summary of Rights Federal Trade Commission: Credit Reports & Scoring -- Know your rights! Federal Trade Commission U.S Government Identity Theft Web Site Identity Theft Complaint Form FirstGov for Consumers

Relevant Topics:

• ID Theft - A Growing Threat! - Don't be a victim. Protect Your Identity & Credit Rating
  
  
  • What is Identity Theft (and what aspects of your life does it affect?)
  
  
  
  • Recognizing Identity Theft
  
  
  
  • Actions to take if you are a victim of identity theft
  
  
  
  • ID Theft by Mail - Those unsolicitated credit applications that you receive in your mail are not only annoying, but they also increase your risk of identity theft. You can stop. Follow this link for info.


• Stop Sales Calls & Junk Mail (to the right)



• Your Credit Rating:



• The Importance of Your Credit Rating



• What does your credit score mean?



• How to Get Your Free Annual Credit Report



• Tips for Disputing Incorrect Information on your Credit Report



• How Joint Accounts Can Hurt Your Credit



• Know Your Legal Rights





• Protect yourself from PC Viruses / Worms / Spyware

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Identity Theft - Definition:

... occurs when someone uses your personal information — like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number — to commit fraud.

Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.

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Recognizing Identity Theft

There are several signs you may be a victim of fraud or identity theft:

• Not receiving bills or other mail you should be getting
• Receiving credit cards you didn’t apply for
• Being denied credit for no reason
• Getting calls or letters about things you didn’t buy
• Being served court papers or arrest warrants for things you know don’t involve you

If one of the above has happened to you, it may simply be due to a clerical error. But never assume that it’s just a mistake – always look into it to find out for sure.

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What to do if you are a victim of identity theft

1. Report the crime to the police immediately.
   • Be sure to get a copy of your police report or case number



2. Immediately contact your credit card issuers.
   • Get replacement cards with new account numbers
   • Ask that old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer's request”
   • Follow up by writing a letter that summarizes your request to the credit card company



3. Place a fraud alert on your credit report
   • Alert all 3 credit reporting bureaus
   • Add a victim's statement to your report so that they must contact you to verify future credit applications
   • Credit bureau contact information:

     Equifax
     www.equifax.com
     PO Box 105069
     Atlanta, GA 30349
     (800) 525-6285

     Experian
     P.O. Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013
     www.experian.com

     TransUnion
     www.transunion.com
     PO Box 6790
     Fullerton, CA 92634
     (800) 680-7289

4. Correct any inaccurate information
   • Request that inquiries you didn’t initiate be removed from your report
   • Make sure your Social Security Number, address, name, employer, and other important information are all correct
   • Check to ensure all changes you requested have been made



5. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Response Center
   • Federal Trade Commission
   • 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
   • Washington, DC 20580
   • Toll-free: 1.877.FTC.HELP
   • TDD: 202.326.2502
   • www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm

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ID Theft by Mail: Protect Your Identity & Credit Rating

The problem: Unsolicited “prescreened” offers for credit and insurance that may not only be sent to your current address, but also to former addresses -- thus making it easy for strangers / unauthorized persons to open a credit card in your name and ruin your credit in the process.

Below are two ways of addressing this problem.

• You may opt out with the nationwide credit bureaus at 1 888 5OPTOUT (1 888 567 8688).
• Companies must include a toll-free phone number you can call if you choose to remove your name and address from the lists these offers are based on.
• If you divulged personal Information: If you believe you have mistakenly given your personal information to a fraudster, file a complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from a potential theft of your
  identity.

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How To Receive the Free Annual Free Credit Report You Are Legally Entitled to ...
& How Dispute Inaccurate Information