How To Fight Identity Theft

 

The bottom line for online threats like phishing, spyware, and hackers is identity theft. ID theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. That’s why it’s important to protect your personal information. If your personal information is accidentally disclosed or deliberately stolen, taking certain steps quickly can minimize the potential for the theft of your identity. If the Stolen Information Includes Your Financial Accounts Close compromised credit card accounts immediately. Consult with your financial institution about whether to close bank or brokerage accounts immediately or first change your passwords and have the institution monitor for possible fraud. 

 

Place passwords on any new accounts that you open. Avoid using your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. If the Stolen Information Includes Your Social Security Number Call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name. 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 2002, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim 

 

Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790 An initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days. When you place this alert on your credit report with one nationwide consumer reporting company, you’ll get information about ordering one free credit report from each of the companies. It’s prudent to wait about a month after your information was stolen before you order your report. That’s because suspicious activity may not show up right away. 

 

Once you get your reports, review them for suspicious activity, like inquiries from companies you didn’t contact, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain. Check that information—like your SSN, address(es), name or initials, and employers—is correct.

 

Brian Alaway

(813) 282-3567

Fax: (813) 286-6594

Email

 

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