Identity Theft: To Do List Immediately contact the creditor associated with the fraudulent activity both by telephone and then IN WRITING specifically describing the problem. * Lost or Stolen Credit Cards: Federal law limits your liability to $50 for unauthorized charges to your account. It is important to know if you gave anyone your card number. This is one reason not to ever give it over the phone. * Lost or Stolen ATM/Debit Cards: Federal law provides that your liability for unauthorized debits is limited to $50 so long as you report the loss of the card within two business days of discovering that it's missing. Otherwise, your liability increases to $500 for reporting it within 60 days. If you fail to report it within that period, however, your liability could be unlimited. Once you report the loss of the credit or debit card, you can't be held responsible for any additional unauthorized charges. * If there are Fraudulent Charges on your Monthly Statements: If you believe there are fraudulent or erroneous charges on your existing credit account, contact your creditor immediately. Federal regulations require credit card companies to remove disputed items from your bill in order to investigate. It is important to note, however, that all disputes must be put in writing. *Password Accounts: If you have closed a credit card account due to fraud and have opened a new account - insist on password-only accounts. Immediately call the fraud help lines of each of the three major credit bureaus to inform them of the situation. Be sure to tell the credit bureaus to flag your file with a fraud alert including a statement that creditors should call you for permission before opening any new accounts in your name. Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834 (800) 680-7289 Experian Consumer Fraud Assistance P.O. Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013 (888) 397-3742 Equifax Consumer Fraud Division P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374 (800) 525-6285 Under federal law, victims of fraud are entitled to receive a free copy of their credit reports. It is advisable that you exercise this right immediately. Inquire into the credit bureau's procedures for having a statement attached to fraudulent information in your file so that future potential creditors are aware of this. Place a security freeze on your file to prevent further damage to your credit history. Law Enforcement. Report any fraudulent activity to the appropriate police and sheriff departments with jurisdiction in your area. Be sure to keep a copy of the police report because financial institutions often require verification that there was a purported crime before they will continue an investigation. The Federal Trade Commission offers assistance to identity theft victims at (877) IDTHEFT orwww.consumer.gov/idtheft *Stolen Checks: If you believe any of your checks have been stolen or fraudulently used, immediately notify your bank. Have them put "stop-payment-orders" on your checks and consider closing out all existing bank accounts and then opening new accounts with new account numbers. Also, report stolen or fraudulent use of checks to: Telecheck: (800) 710-9898, CheckRite: (800) 766-2748; Equifax: (800) 525-6285; ChexSystems: (800) 428-9623; International Check Services: (800) 526-5380; SCAN: (800) 262-7771; NPC: (800) 526-5380 * Social Security Number: If you believe someone has used your Social Security Number to get a job, contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 to confirm all reported earnings information. To report fraudulent use of a social security number, call (800) 269-0271. More Information On Social Security Number Fraud can be found at: www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm *U.S. Postal Service: For complaints about products or information received through the U.S. Postal Service, or if you believe your mail has been stolen or someone has submitted a fraudulent change-of-address form, go to www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect or write to: Mail Fraud, Chief of Postal Inspector Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20260 © 2007 Consumer Lawyers Group: The Greene, Benjamin, and Cropsey Firms. Private and class action litigation including (depending on the firm): Mortgage closing fees, predatory mortgages, lemon law, deceptive trade practices, deceptive lending practices, TILA, RESPA, HOEPA, fraudulent business practices, social security disablity (SSD), real estate matters, defective products, credit matters, bogus fees, identity Theft, insurance matters, matrimonial, workers compensation, scams and rip off's generally. |
