Protect your identity

If you suspect that your identity has been used fraudulently, you can ask the credit bureaus to set free fraud alerts on your behalf.  This will add a fraud alert message to your credit report.  Fraud alert messages notify potential credit grantors to verify your identity before giving credit in your name. When you contact one of the credit bureaus, it must contact the other 2 about your Fraud alert. 

Here is the link to place an initial 90 day fraud alert at Experian.
Once you submit this with Experian, they must then notify Equifax and Transunion to do the same.

There is also a company who will help place these Fraud Alerts for you as well as provide other identity protection services. 

 

Steps to help protect yourself against identity theft

1. You will decrease your chances of identity theft when you reduce the numerous unsolicited offers of credit and insurance you receive (Junk Mail). 
You can opt out now for the next 5 years...  think of all the trees you'll save! 
Make sure you also put yourself on the Do Not Call list.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards.  Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the For line.   Instead, just put the last four numbers.  The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone on your checks instead of your home phone.  If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you don't have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SSN printed on your checks.  You can add it if it is necessary, but if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.  Copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.  Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad.  We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

6. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name and last name) put on them.  If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

Limit the damage

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.  The key is having the toll-free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen.  This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there is to be one).

Very Important

Contact these numbers immediately if your wallet has been stolen or for any reason you think your private information has gone public:

Equifax 800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW) 888-397-3742
Trans Union 800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line) 800-269-0271

 

 

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