If you become a victim of identity theft there are steps that you can take to get your life back.
It is important that you take these steps as soon as possible to avoid any more damage to your credit and your finances.
This article will give the information that you need to get your life back in order.
The very first thing that you should do is to close your accounts.
Speak to a representative from the fraud department and follow up your conversation in writing.
Send all correspondence by certified mail and keep copies for yourself.
Ask for fraud dispute forms to dispute fraudulent charges made to your account.
If the company does not have such a form, send a letter detailing the transaction and reasons for the dispute.
Always send correspondence to the address for billing inquires and not to the payment address.
It is very important that you keep copies of all documents and letters concerning your dispute.
Follow up witha phone call to confirm that the dispute letters have been received.
Once the dispute has been resolved, ask for a letter from the company stating the they have closed the account and discharged the disputed debts.
This will be your only defense to the credit reporting agencies if the item should re-appear there.
The next thing you should do is to file a police report.
Obtain a copy of the police report or case number.
This will give you proof of the crime for the credit agencies that require it.
If your local police department does not want to file your complaint, contact your state Attorney General's office.
You can find out here if the police department is required to take your complaint.
Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report.
This will not allow any more new lines of credit to be approved without your express consent.
This credit reporting agency is then required to contact the other two agencies to place a fraud alert.
Obtain copies of your credit reports and look them over carefully.
Note any inquiries from companies you didn't contact, accounts that you did not open and debt on the report that you can't explain.
Contact the credit reporting agency to get any inaccurate information removed.
Check your credit report periodically to make sure no more fraudulent activity occurs.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
This will give the government important information needed to track down the identity thieves.
The FTC can provide victims' complaints to law enforcement agencies across the nation to facilitate the arrest and conviction of these criminals.
Being a victim of identity theft can be a harrowing experience.
However, it is not the end of the world.
Use the above tips to take back your life and to help make it harder for identity thieves to prosper.
It is important that you take these steps as soon as possible to avoid any more damage to your credit and your finances.
This article will give the information that you need to get your life back in order.
The very first thing that you should do is to close your accounts.
Speak to a representative from the fraud department and follow up your conversation in writing.
Send all correspondence by certified mail and keep copies for yourself.
Ask for fraud dispute forms to dispute fraudulent charges made to your account.
If the company does not have such a form, send a letter detailing the transaction and reasons for the dispute.
Always send correspondence to the address for billing inquires and not to the payment address.
It is very important that you keep copies of all documents and letters concerning your dispute.
Follow up witha phone call to confirm that the dispute letters have been received.
Once the dispute has been resolved, ask for a letter from the company stating the they have closed the account and discharged the disputed debts.
This will be your only defense to the credit reporting agencies if the item should re-appear there.
The next thing you should do is to file a police report.
Obtain a copy of the police report or case number.
This will give you proof of the crime for the credit agencies that require it.
If your local police department does not want to file your complaint, contact your state Attorney General's office.
You can find out here if the police department is required to take your complaint.
Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report.
This will not allow any more new lines of credit to be approved without your express consent.
This credit reporting agency is then required to contact the other two agencies to place a fraud alert.
Obtain copies of your credit reports and look them over carefully.
Note any inquiries from companies you didn't contact, accounts that you did not open and debt on the report that you can't explain.
Contact the credit reporting agency to get any inaccurate information removed.
Check your credit report periodically to make sure no more fraudulent activity occurs.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
This will give the government important information needed to track down the identity thieves.
The FTC can provide victims' complaints to law enforcement agencies across the nation to facilitate the arrest and conviction of these criminals.
Being a victim of identity theft can be a harrowing experience.
However, it is not the end of the world.
Use the above tips to take back your life and to help make it harder for identity thieves to prosper.
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