Identity Theft and Fraud

Identity Theft is quickly becoming a common occurrence in today's world. Many say that it is not a matter of "if" but just a matter of "when" a person will have their identity stolen. Following is information provided by www.transunion.com on what to do if you should become a victim of identity theft. Also, The State of Texas has passed a law allowing residents of Texas to request a free credit report annually to check on the status and activity of their credit. You can find more information about free credit reports at: www.annualcreditreport.com

Identifying Fraud:

How do you know if you are a fraud victim? If a creditor or law enforcement agency referred you to a Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD), you may already know that you are a fraud victim. Otherwise, you may merely suspect that fraud has occurred. If you know that you did not cause the problem, but your credit is affected, you are the victim of a credit fraud crime and you need to take certain steps to protect your rights. Following are some signs that identity fraud may have occurred.

Fraud Signs

The signs can vary, but typical indicators of fraud and/or stolen identity include:

  • One of your creditors informs you that they have received an application for credit with your name and Social Security number.
  • Incoming calls or letters state that you have been approved or denied by a creditor to which you never applied.
  • You receive credit card, utility, or telephone statements in your name and address for which you never applied.
  • You no longer receive your credit card statements, or you notice that not all of your mail is delivered to you.
  • Your credit card statement includes unusual purchases.
  • A collection agency tells you they are collecting for a defaulted account established with your identity, but you never opened the account.

Taking Action:

Once you realize that you are a fraud victim, you need to contact various government, banking, and credit agencies.

Complete the following tasks:

  • Report the incident to the police immediately, especially if it involves stolen identification. Obtain a copy of the incident report.
  • Report all stolen cards to the issuers immediately, and request new credit cards. Follow up with written notification.
  • Notify your bank if your checks were stolen, and close your account.
  • Be prepared to fill out affidavits of forgery to establish your innocence for banks, credit grantors, and recipients of stolen checks. These institutions are joint victims with you and may suffer a financial loss.
  • Contact the Social Security Administration if someone is using your Social Security number for employment purposes. If your Social Security number is used only to establish credit or new accounts, TransUnion does not recommend that you change your Social Security number, as this may cause future complications.
  • If you use an ATM card for banking services, get a new card, account number, and password. Do not renew your old password.
  • Notify the postal inspector if you suspect mail theft. Theft of mail is a felony.
  • Contact TransUnion's Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD) to place a fraud alert on your credit file. You can reach FVAD toll-free at 800-680-7289. To further assist you, TransUnion will submit the fraud alert to Equifax and Experian

Reporting Fraud:

Here is a reference list of contact information for fraud assistance:


TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834
1-800-680-7289

Equifax Credit Information Services
Consumer Fraud Division
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-888-766-0008

Experian
Experian's National Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742

Federal Trade Commission
877-ID-THEFT

US Postal Inspectors
Criminal Investigations Service Center
222 S. Riverside Plaza Ste 1250
Chicago IL 60606-6100
1-877-876-2455

For Check-writing Fraud:

Check Rite / Global Payments
800-638-4600

Tele-Check
800-710-9898