Unemployment Identity Theft - Report unemployment benefits identity theft to your state's labor department. Credit Reporting Agencies - Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts or freezes on your accounts. Also get copies of your credit reports, to be sure that no one has already tried to get unauthorized credit accounts with your personal information. Confirm that the credit reporting agency will alert the other two credit reporting agencies.
National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center - Report cases of identity theft due to a stay in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Financial Institutions - Contact the fraud department at your bank, credit card issuers and any other places where you have accounts.
Retailers and Other Companies - Report the crime to companies where the identity thief opened credit accounts or even applied for jobs. State Attorney General Offices - Your state's attorney general might offer tips, checklists, or an advocate to help you recover from identity theft. Print Text size Listen icon. What is identity theft? They could use your: name and address credit card or bank account numbers Social Security number medical insurance account numbers Why should I care if someone steals my identity?
How can that happen? A thief might get a credit card using your name. He changes the address. The bills go to him, but he never pays them. That means the credit card company thinks you are not paying the bills. That will hurt your credit. This is the kind of trouble identity theft can cause for you. For Example. What To Know. How can a thief steal my identity? A thief might: steal your mail or garbage to get your account numbers or your Social Security number trick you into sending personal information in an email steal your account numbers from a business or medical office steal your wallet or purse to get your personal information How do I know if someone steals my identity?
Sometimes, you can tell if someone steals your identity. Read your bills. Do you see charges for things you did not buy? Watch your bank account statement. Are there withdrawals you did not make? Are there changes you do not expect? Check your mail. There is no time limit to a freeze; it will remain until you decide to lift it, which you may do temporarily or permanently. You should have a copy on hand if you decide to file a police report and additional copies to provide to your creditors.
You may also choose to report the crime to the police in the location where the crime s occurred. Securing a police report can help protect you from further damages resulting from the theft. The FTC provides a memo to give to local law enforcement , which stresses the importance of police reports for consumer victims in these types of fraud cases.
Make sure the police report lists all accounts affected by the fraud and be prepared to provide as much documented information as possible, along with your Identity Theft Report. After filing the report, remember to request a copy for your own records. Keep the phone number of your police investigator handy on a contact sheet for future reference.
The FTC has a sample letter template that you can use to draft your request. Along with the letter, include a copy of your Identity Theft Report and identifying information, along with details about which information is fraudulent.
Continue to keep a close eye on your credit report, though, in case any additional fraudulent accounts are added later. Change all of your passwords on any account that was affected by fraud.
You should always use best practices when creating a password, like using diverse alphanumeric combinations, avoiding obvious or identifying information like your date of birth and being sure not to duplicate a password across accounts. You can use a secure password manager to keep track of each new password. If your Social Security card was stolen, you can request a replacement card online. Notify the Office of the Inspector General if your Social Security number has been fraudulently used and create an account online to get a copy of your Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement , which you can check for accuracy.
If someone is using your license as an identification or there is a risk someone will, the number may be flagged. For a stolen passport, the theft should be reported to the State Department either online, by mail or by phone at You can replace a passport by making an appointment at a Passport Agency or Center for expedited requests or by applying for replacement at a passport acceptance facility.
Your utility providers and telephone carriers should be alerted in case an identity thief tries to open a new account in your name, using a utility bill as proof of residence. If an account was opened in your name, explain what happened to the service provider and ask for the account to be closed. Visit IdentityTheft. Did you get a notice that says a company lost your personal information in a data breach?
Did you lose your wallet? Or learn that an online account was hacked? Here are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft. What can you do to keep your personal info secure?
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