Resources For Identity Theft
If you are looking for ways to prevent identity theft or have been a victim of identity theft and need immediate help, below you will find many resources that can help you. Identity theft is when a criminal or group of criminals obtains your personal or financial information to commit a crime or fraud. No one is immune to identity theft and it affects many different segments of the population.
Contact the Police
The first step is to contact your police department and notify them that you believe you were a victim of identity theft, while the chances are slim that they will catch the perpetrators, it is important to go down to the police station to make a legal record and police report which might be used later.
Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Companies
It is important to contact all institutions that you do business with, so they can flag your credit cards and accounts in case someone wants to use it fraudulently. The quicker you contact these businesses the better.
Contact the Big Three Credit Reporting Agencies
You should contact the big three credit reporting agencies. They include Experian, Equifax and Trans Union. You can contact them by phone and advise them that you believe an identity theft has occurred. They will make sure that anyone requesting to open a new loan or credit card will first ask to confirm their identity. At this point, it is also a good idea to request a credit report to make sure that no new accounts have already been opened.
Government Agencies
If an identity theft has occurred, you should also contact the following government agencies, the Social Security Administration and the IRS. These agencies should be put on notice that someone may be using your SS number fraudulently; this can prevent tax fraud problems and SS fraud problems.
Community Agencies
Other Agencies that might be helpful if an identity theft has occurred is the Better Business Bureau, American Association of Retired Persons and the National Consumers League.
Remember that quick action by you, once you find out your identity has be fraudulently obtained can prevent you from problems later down the road. Identity theft can have negative consequences on people’s credit reports and can result in poor credit scores, if an identity theft is not noticed quickly. While these negative consequences can be erased from your credit report and score, it can be very time consuming and labor intensive.
