How Can I Help? – Frequently Asked Questions:
Identity Theft
This page provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Identity Theft to help you resolve concerns with federal agencies on your own.
However if you still need help after reviewing this information, contact my Camarillo or Solvang office and my staff will open a case and we will act as your liaison with the appropriate federal agency.
If you believe your identity has been stolen, you should immediately take the following steps to protect your credit and good name:
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
- Order a copy of your credit report.
- Contact your creditors. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
- If your driver’s license number has been misused, notify the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Contact the bank and stop payment immediately if you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently.
- Immediately contact your bank if your ATM card has been stolen and change your password immediately.
- If you suspect your address is being misused, notify your local postal inspector.
- Call the Social Security Administration to report misuse of your Social Security Number.
- If you suspect misuse, cancel Long Distance Calling Card Accounts.
- Contact the State Department if you are a victim of identity theft.
- Contact the IRS.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
- Order a copy of your credit report.
- Contact your creditors. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
- If your driver’s license number has been misused, notify the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Contact the bank and stop payment immediately if you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently.
- Immediately contact your bank if your ATM card has been stolen and change your password immediately.
- If you suspect your address is being misused, notify your local postal inspector.
- Call the Social Security Administration to report misuse of your Social Security Number.
- If you suspect misuse, cancel Long Distance Calling Card Accounts.
- Contact the State Department if you are a victim of identity theft.
- Contact the IRS.
Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name. Contact the toll-free fraud number of any of the three consumer reporting companies below to place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert. The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact that company directly to place a fraud alert.
TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
Once you place the fraud alert in your file, you’re entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer reporting companies, and, if you ask, only the last four digits of your Social Security number will appear on your credit reports. Once you get your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct.
If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. For more information on how to remove inaccurate information, go to the FTC publication, Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft. When you correct your credit report, use an Identity Theft Report with a cover letter explaining your request, to get the fastest and most complete results. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Call and speak with someone in the security or fraud department of each creditor. If there are unauthorized charges on your account, send a written letter, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents. It’s important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.
When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:
• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn’t have special forms, use the FTC’s sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for “billing inquiries,” NOT the address for sending your payments. • For new unauthorized accounts, you can either file a dispute directly with the company or file a report with the police and provide a copy, called an “Identity Theft Report,” to the company. • If you want to file a dispute directly with the company, and do not want to file a report with the police, ask if the company accepts the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit. If it does not, ask the representative to send you the company’s fraud dispute forms.
Call the police department and tell them that you want to file a report about your identity theft. Ask them if you can file the report in person. If you cannot, ask if you can file a report over the Internet or telephone.
When you go to your local police department to file your report, bring a printed copy of your FTC ID Theft Complaint form, your cover letter, and your supporting documentation. The cover letter explains why a police report and an ID Theft Complaint are so important to victims.
You may need to change your driver’s license number if someone is using yours as identification on bad checks. Call the DMV to see if another license was issued in your name. Put a fraud alert on your license. Go to your local DMV to request a new number. Also, fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process. Send supporting documents with the completed form to the nearest DMV investigation office. For more information, please go to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
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). If your own checks are rejected at stores where you shop, contact the check verification company that the merchant uses. To report fraudulent use of your checks:
• Chexsystems: (800) 428-9623
• CrossCheck: (800) 843-0760
• Equifax: (800) 437-5120
• International Check Services: (800) 631-9656
• SCAN: (800) 262-7771
• TeleCheck: (800) 710-9898
Get a new ATM card, account number and password. When creating a password, don’t use common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security Number or your birth date. Monitor your account statement. You may be required to pay the charges if you do not report the fraud quickly.
Call the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (800-275-8777) to get the phone number of the local Postal Inspector. 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.
The thief might be using your SSN for employment purposes. Under certain circumstances, the Social Security Administration (800-269-0271) may change your Social Security Number. You may also order your Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement by calling (800) 772-1213.
If your calling card has been stolen or you discover fraudulent charges, cancel the account and open a new one. Provide a password which must be used any time the account is changed.
To report a lost or stolen passport, please call 1-888-877-2778 (TDD 1-888-874-7793). Operators are available between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday (not on Federal holidays). You may also go to the State Department’s Lost or Stolen Passports page.
Even if you do not currently have a passport, write the passport office to alert them to anyone ordering a passport fraudulently if you are a victim of identity theft.
If you have been a victim of Identity Theft, but have not received a notice from the IRS, please call 1-800-908-4490 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. P.S.T. For more information about identity theft and tax information, please see the IRS’s Identity Theft and Your Tax Records page.
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