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Identity Theft, What Is It And How Do You Protect Yourself?
Identity Theft is when someone uses another person's social security
number, driver license, name, address, telephone number and any other
information about that particular person as their own. The unauthorized
person that obtains this information without the other person's
knowledge uses this information to commit theft and fraud.
How does a person committing ID theft get my information? By going
through your trash, hacking into a computer that you may use, securing a
copy of your credit report, stealing credit card and debit card numbers
that you may have, stealing your mail,completing a change of address
form to reroute your mail to a different address, stealing your purse or
wallet, and scamming information from you by posing as a business
person.
How would I know if I am a victim of ID theft? If you receive credit
card statements for accounts you did not apply for, you do not receive
your mail, your credit is being denied and you do not know why,
counterfeit checks are used to withdraw money from your bank account,
you receive calls from collection agencies about bills for accounts
established with your personal information that you do not know
about,and other problems that you may have with your personal
information.
Should I order a copy of my credit reports to find out if I am a victim
of identity theft? Yes, you may want to consider doing this if you
suspect that you are a victim of identity theft. You should immediately order
a copy of your credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies
which are: Equifax,
Experian and;
TransUnion.
What should I do if my identity is stolen by someone? Contact the three
credit reporting agencies as soon as possible and let them know that you
are a victim of ID theft and ask them to place a fraud alert and your
statement as a victim in your credit report file. Order a copy of your
credit report from each agency to check the information on your report.
You can also contact the credit reporting agencies fraud units of these
services.
You also may want to consider closing your credit and checking accounts
if you suspect identity theft. Contact your bank and creditors about
your identity being stolen and consider closing your accounts and
establish new ones.
If your checks are stolen, request that your bank notify the check
verification company that they use. You may also want to contact the
major check verification companies as well.
The major check verification companies that you would want to contact
are the following: Telecheck, 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188:: Certegy
Inc., 1-800-437-5120:: and; International Check Services,
1-800-631-9656.
You may also want to contact a company known as Scan at 1-800-262-7771
to find out if an identity thief has been using your checks. In
addition, you should also contact your local police department and
report that your identity has been stolen.
Make sure that you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
about your identity being stolen as well. You can file this report at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Good luck!
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