ACTIONS FOR FRAUD VICTIMS
When responding to any type of fraud threat, the best way to minimize both the potential damage and your own liability is to move quickly, document everything, and contact the right authorities.
- Detailed Records. Keep a written record of everything that’s happening, including detailed accounts of conversations you have with authorities and financial institutions.
- Law Enforcement. Report what’s happened to the police or other proper authorities, providing any documentation you’ve collected. Get a copy of your police report and keep the phone number of your fraud investigator handy so you can reference it with others working on your case.
- Financial Institutions. Alert your financial institutions and close any compromised accounts. If you’ve had checks stolen, be sure to close the checking account. Stopping Payment isn’t enough. You can expect collection notices for stolen checks, so be on the lookout and respond to each one.
- U.S. Postal Service. If you suspect an identity thief has filed a change of your address with the post office or has used the mail to commit credit or bank fraud, notify your local post office immediately.
- Social Security Administration. Call and report any fraudulent use of your Social Security number.
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To initiate a fraud investigation with the DMV, fill out their complaint form and send supporting documents with the completed form to the nearest DMV investigation office. You can also call the DMV to see if a license has ever been issued to anyone else in your name or visit your local DMV to request a new license number. If available in your state, request a driver's license number different than your Social Security number.
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- Civil Courts. If a civil judgment has been entered in your name for actions taken by your fraudster, contact the court where the judgment was entered and report that you are a victim of identity theft. If you are wrongfully prosecuted for criminal charges, contact the state Department of Justice and the FBI.
- Fraud Alerts. To set up a fraud alert, call any one of the three credit reporting agencies and ask that your account include a statement referencing the possibility of fraud. By law, each agency is required to alert the other two agencies when fraud alerts are setup.
CREDIT BUREAU CONTACT INFORMATION
TransUnion
TransUnion Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000
888 397-3742
888-909-8872
www.transunion.com
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Experian
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
888-397-3742
888 397-3742
www.experian.com
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Equifax
Equifax Credit Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
800 525-6285
888-766-0008
www.equifax.com
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