Victims of identity theft are often burdened with the responsibility of resolving the problems themselves. Yet there are agencies and organizations that can help.
It's important that you act immediately and aggressively to minimize the damage to your financial reputation, according to Katherine Reuter, University of Illinois Extension Educator, Consumer and Family Economics.
When resolving identity theft, keep a log of all steps accomplished and conversations including dates, times, names, and phone numbers. It is best to confirm conversations in writing, Rueter recommended.
Send all correspondence regarding the identity theft through certified mail with a return receipt requested. Also, be sure to keep copies of all letters and documents.
If you are a victim of identity theft, complete these four steps as soon as possible.
Contact the local Police Department where the identity theft took place. Obtain a copy of the police report in case you need to send a copy to your bank, credit card companies and any others who need proof of the crime.
Call or write the top three credit bureau fraud departments and inform them about your situation. Request that a fraud alert be placed on your file. Also, request that no new credit be granted without your approval.
Close all accounts with banks and credit card companies that were fraudulently accessed or opened by an identity thief. You must notify your bank and other financial institutions within two days of learning of the theft. You may be responsible for the first $50 of your loss. Most of the time the victim does not have to pay a dime.
Open new checking and savings accounts with new account numbers and passwords. Use passwords that are not easy to discover. Do not use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, your pets name, your children's names, the last four digits of your Social Security number or anything easy to figure out.
Reuter suggests that you contact the Federal Trade Commission for information on how to resolve your credit theft. They may refer you to other appropriate government agencies and private organizations for further assistance.
You may want to contact the U.S. Postal Service if you feel you are a victim of postal theft. The Secretary of State should be contacted also if your driver's license has been used for identification on bad checks. You may want to request that your driver's license be changed. However, you might need to prove you were personally and financially damaged by the theft of your driver's license.
The U.S. Customs Service should also be contacted about your identity theft so they can be on the lookout for anyone ordering a new passport in your name.
If the identity theft has had a damaging effect on you finances, have your bank or credit card company contact the Secret Service who has jurisdiction over cases of financial fraud.
Notify all utilities to alert them of the possibility of someone opening new service in your name. If you are being charged for calls you did not make with your calling card, you may need to contact your local and long distance card companies about your identity theft situation.
Reuter strongly suggested you consider seeking legal counsel if you have difficulty in clearing your name and credit history and if the theft involves a large amount of money.
Finally, Reuter encourages you to contact your state and federal legislators to let them know about your case and to request stronger personal and financial privacy laws. In October 1998, Congress passes the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, making it a federal crime to steal someone's identity.
"There still is a need for more legislation on this alarmingly increasing crime," Reuter said.
For more information on identity theft, contact your University of Illinois Extension Unit Office.
Source: Ellen I. Burton, Extension Educator, Consumer and Family Economics
