A GUIDE TO VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT
This pamphlet identifies the major resources to contact in case you are a victim of Identity Theft. This is the fastest growing crime in Alabama. If you are a victim of identity theft, it is important to act quickly and to continue to follow up with the police and private agencies.
When dealing with the police, private businesses and financial institutions, keep a record of all conversations, including dates, names, and phone numbers. Record your time, expenses and lost wages. Confirm conversation in writing. Send correspondence by certified mail (return receipt requested). KEEP COPIES OF ALL LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS.
1. Credit Bureaus - Immediately call the fraud units of the three major Credit Reporting
Companies: Experian (formerly TRW), Equifax, and Trans Union. Report the theft of your credit card or numbers. Ask that your account be FLAGGED. Also, add a victim’s statement to your report. (“My applications.”) Be sure to ask how long the fraud alert is posted on your account, and how you can extend it if necessary.
Beware that these measures may not entirely stop new fraudulent accounts from being opened by the imposter. Ask the credit bureaus in writing to provide you with free copies every few months so you can monitor your credit report. Follow up any request by phone, with a letter restating your request per your phone conversation with them. Reference your phone conversation with the credit bureau representative.
Ask the credit bureaus for names and phone numbers of credit grantors with whom fraudulent accounts have been opened. Ask the credit bureaus to remove inquiries that have been generated due to the fraudulent access. You may also ask the credit bureaus to notify those who have received your credit report in the last six months in order to alert them to the disputed and erroneous information (two years for employers).
2. Creditors - Contact all creditors immediately with whom your name has been used fraudulently by phone and in writing. Get replacement cards with new account numbers for your own accounts that have been used fraudulently. Request that old accounts be processed as “account closed at customer’s request.” (This is better than “card lost or stolen” because when this statement is reported to credit bureaus it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss.) Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report it immediately to credit grantors.
3. Fraud Verification Requirements: You may be asked by banks and credit grantors to fill out and notarize fraud affidavits, which could become costly. The law does not require you to provide a notarized affidavit. A written statement and supporting documentation should be enough (unless the creditors offer to pay for the notary). However, some banks and credit grantors may offer notary service at no charge at their institution. Overly burdensome requirements by creditors should be reported to the federal government authorities. For help in determining which agency to contact, call CALPIRG or the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
4.
Law Enforcement – REPORT the crime to your local Police
Agencies and Sheriff’s Departments with jurisdiction in your
case. Give them as much documented evidence as possible. Get a copy of your
police report. Keep the phone number for your fraud investigator handy and give
it to creditors and others who require verifications of your case. Credit card
companies and banks may require you to show the report in order to verify the
crime. Some Police Agencies have been known to refuse to write reports on such
crimes. Be persistent!
(Please note that under Alabama’s Identity Theft Law, the actual crime can be
the address where you live. This keeps you from traveling from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction if the offender used your identity in multiple places. Also note
that your Identity is considered your name, date of birth, SSN, Driver’s License
Numbers, Account Numbers, Credit Cards Numbers, Checking Account Numbers and
other information that identifies you.)
5. Stolen Checks – If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the check verification companies. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. Give the bank a secret password for your account (NOT mother’s maiden name).
6. ATM Cards – If you’re ATM or debit card has been stolen or compromised, report it immediately. Get a new card, account number and password. DO NOT use your old password. When creating a password don’t use common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security Number or your birth date. PLEASE remember that debit cards and ATM cards withdraw money directly from your account, and it may take longer to recover your funds.
7. Fraudulent Change of Address – Notify the local Postal Inspector if you suspect an identify thief has filed a change of address with the post office or has used the mail to commit credit or bank fraud. (Call the local Postmaster to obtain the phone numbers.) Find out where fraudulent credit cards were sent. Notify the local Postmaster for that address to forward all mail in your name to your own address. You may also need to talk with the mail carrier.
8. Secret Service Jurisdiction – The Secret Service has jurisdiction over financial fraud. However, they usually don’t involve themselves in cases unless the losses exceed $10,000 to $20,000 or you are one of several victims of a fraud ring. To interest the Secret Service in your case, you may want to ask the fraud department of the credit card companies and/or banks, as well as the police investigator, to notify the particular Secret Service agent they work with.
9. Social Security Misuse – Call the Social Security Administration to report fraudulent use of your Social Security Number. As a last resort, you might want to try to change your number. The Social Security Administration will only change it if you fit the fraud victim criteria. Also order a copy of your Earnings and Benefits Statement and check it for accuracy. Also have them check for any duplicate Social Security Cards requested in your name.
10. Passports – If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.
11. Phone Service – If your long distance calling card has been stolen or you discover fraudulent charges on your bill, cancel the account and open a new one. Provide a password that must be used any time the account is charged. If someone has used your identity to obtain credit, contact your local phone company and request they complete a check by your name and social security number for any additional service ordered in your name fraudulently.
12. Driver License Number Misuse - You may need to change your driver’s license number if someone is using yours as identification on bad checks. Call the state Drivers License division located in your area (usually the same location you renew your license). Put a fraud alert on your license. Complete any complaint form they offer and retain a copy. Send any supporting documents they request and provide any duplicate fraudulent license you are aware of and copies of any police reports you have filed.
PREVENTION/GENERAL INFORMATION
One should use common sense when using credit cards, checks, identity and other documents that identify you. First, when you renew your driver’s license have your Social Security Number removed from your driver’s license. Never provide your personal information, such as Address, Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number or other identifying information over the phone or over the internet, unless you are REALLY SURE who you are talking to or corresponding with over the internet. Shred all documents when you dispose of them, including pre-approved credit cards. Have your checks mailed to the bank or to a Post Office Box. Thieves target mail boxes that contain boxes of blank checks. Only have your name and address on your checks. DO NOT use any identifying information as a PIN number or Password. At least every 6 months run a credit report on you for any unusual activity. AND finally, always report fraud, identity theft and other crimes.
YOUR IDENTITY has become a valuable property for thieves. Your IDENTITY has become the target of many thieves. Now burglars target your check books, credit cards, and information just as much as they look for electronics when they break into a home. Drug dealers have given up selling drugs or supplemented their trade through identity theft, which is lucrative for them. Identity thieves watch shopping centers, convenience stores and other areas for women who leave their car without a purse. They then break the window and steal your purse.
Always protect your IDENTITY as you would protect your most valued possession. When a thief has stolen your identity he has stolen YOU.
Please follow the above suggestions and stay in contact with your law enforcement agency working your case. Also, please use the attached Checklist to make the necessary notifications. If you are not sure which ones to contact, then it is better to notify them all. Remember to ask the Credit Bureau how long the “Fraud Alert” will remain, because offenders are aware of time limits and often reuse your identity when they are sure the “Fraud Alert” has been removed from your Credit Report.
CHECKLIST
____ Social Security Administration 1-800-269-0271 & 1-800-0772-1213 to report fraud.
____ Tax Fraud 1-800-829-0433
____ Call Federal Trade Commission to report fraud & ID Theft 1-877-438-4338 (www.ftc.gov)
____ Report Stolen Checks or your Checking Account Number or your information
being placed on counterfeit checks to:
Check Rite 1-800-766-2748
Tele-Check 1-800-366-2425
CheckCare 205-290-4200
Equifax/Tele 1-800-437-5120
NPC 1-800-526-5380
SCAN 1-800-262-7771
Cross Check 1-800-552-1900
Chex System 1-800-328-5121
____ Checks and mail stolen, report to U.S. Postal Inspection Service
____ Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD) fvad@transunion.com
1-800-680-7289
____ Report Fraud/ID Theft to Equifax Credit 1-800-525-6285 (www.equifax.com)
or (404) 885-8000. FAX (770) 375-2821
P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250
____ Report Fraud to Experian Credit 1-888-397-3742 (www.experian.com)
P.O. Box 9530, Allen, TX 75013
____ Report Fraud to Trans Union Credit 1-800-680-7289 (www.tuc.com)
FAX (714) 447-6034
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
WE ENCOURAGE all victims of Identity Theft to write their State Legislatures about their experience and ask that the punishment for Identity Theft be increased. We also strongly encourage all victims to insist on prosecution of offenders. Stay in contact with your police agency and request a copy of your State’s Identity Theft Law.
The information contained in this publication may be copied (Law Enforcement Agencies may place this publication on their letterhead, but must leave this statement and credit listed above). The information is not guaranteed to be correct. If you detect any errors, please report them in writing to PCRIA, Post Office Box, 661164, Vestavia, AL 35266-1164. We are a non-profit association and donations may also be mailed to this address. Any funds are used for education, training and victims’ assistance. Donations are not tax deductible, but appreciated.
VISIT
WWW.PCRIA.ORG
FOR MORE
HELPFUL LINKS
Published by the Property
Crime & Recovery Investigators of