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Identity Crisis
Maybe you never opened that account, but someone else did...someone
who used your name and personal information to commit fraud. When
an imposter co-opts your name, your Social Security number (SSN),
your credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information
for their use-in short, when someone appropriates your personal
information without your knowledge-it's a crime, pure and simple.
The biggest problem? You may not know your identity's been stolen
until you notice that something's amiss: you may get bills for a
credit card account you never opened, your credit report may include
debts you never knew you had, a billing cycle may pass without your
receiving a statement, or you may see charges on your bills that
you didn't sign for, didn't authorize, and don't know anything about.
First Things First
If someone has stolen your identity, the Federal Trade Commission
recommends that you take three actions immediately.
- Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit
bureaus. Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert including
a statement that creditors should get your permission before opening
any new accounts in your name.
At the same time, ask the credit bureaus for copies of your credit
reports. Credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your report
if it is inaccurate because of fraud. Review your reports carefully
to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened
in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts.
In a few months, order new copies of your reports to verify your
corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity
has occurred.
- Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered
with or opened fraudulently. Ask to speak with someone in the
security or fraud department, and follow up in writing. Following
up with a letter is one of the procedures spelled out in the Fair
Credit Billing Act for resolving errors on credit billing statements,
including charges that you have not made.
- File a report with your local police or the police in the community
where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy in case your
creditors need proof of the crime.
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