The Department of Justice defines identity theft as the unauthorized use or attempted use of credit cards, bank accounts and other existing accounts as well as the unauthorized attempt to open new accounts using personal information belonging to someone else. [1] X Trustworthy Source United States Department of Justice Official website of the U.S. Department of Justice Go to source When you believe that you have been the victim of identity theft, there are some very clear steps you should follow right away. You will need to report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), your local police department, and any financial institutions you do business with.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Reporting to the FTC
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Use IdentityTheft.gov. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created this web site, IdentityTheft.gov, as a “one-stop resource” for identity theft victims. This is a secure, government sponsored web site that will allow you to report a suspected identity theft, or gather resources to help prevent identity theft in the future. [2] X Research source
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Begin by clicking on the “Get Started” button. If you are using this site because you believe that you have been the victim of an identity theft, you will want to submit a report. You can begin the report by clicking on "Get Started" in the center of the screen. [3] X Research source
- There is also an option to proceed with the entire process in Spanish, if you prefer. You can select this option in the top right corner of the screen.
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Select the next step that applies to you. On the next screen, you will be provided with five choices. [4] X Research source Consider the options and select the one that most applies to your current situation.
- I want to report identity theft. This will be your selection if you believe that someone has already used your identity for purchases, for unauthorized credit uses, to open unauthorized accounts, or some other similar activity.
- Someone else filed a tax return using my information. Especially in the early few months of the year, people need to be concerned about fraud schemes that involve intercepting other people's tax return information. In 2013, over five million cases of tax return fraud were estimated to have occurred. [5] X Trustworthy Source United States Department of Justice Official website of the U.S. Department of Justice Go to source If you believe this may have happened to you, make this selection.
- My information was exposed in a data breach. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, an estimated 86 million credit card data entries were compromised in 2014. [6] X Research source If you are concerned about the security of your credit information through a retail store, this is your choice.
- Someone got my personal information or my wallet, and I’m worried about identity theft. Most people are very careful about their personal information in their purse or wallet, but if yours was stolen or temporarily missing -- even if nothing appears to be taken -- you may want to report the concern here.
- Something else.
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Follow the menu selections. Whichever option you choose will lead to further specific questions. Try to answer all the questions as accurately as possible. The information you provide will be collected into a theft affidavit. [7] X Research source You will be asked such questions as:
- Your personal identification
- Credit card accounts and numbers
- Identification of the identity thief (if you know)
- Complete all of the information required as thoroughly and honestly as possible. Your case will be a lot stronger if you can provide specific details.
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Check for accuracy. Review all of the information you provided. Make sure that it is correct, as much as you know. You will be shown a summary of your complaint, containing all the information you have provided. Verify that it is complete and accurate. At the end, click the "Finalize" button. [8] X Research source
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Submit your complaint. After you verify and finalize the information in your complaint, you will have the opportunity to open an account. This will give you a reference number that you can use to come back to the site and check on the progress. If you choose not to create an account, you can submit your complaint without opening an account. [9] X Research source
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Record your reference number. Make a note of the reference number you are provided at the end of the process. You will need this to make any changes or updates to your affidavit, or to contact someone at the FTC regarding your identity theft.
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Keep a copy. Print out a copy of your form after it is submitted to the FTC. You will see a screen at the end of the process that gives you the option to print. You can also save it to your computer for future reference. Keeping this record is important in case you need to follow up on the case. It may also be helpful in your further communications with your credit agency or insurance company. [10] X Research source
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Report by telephone. If you are uncomfortable using an online form to submit your theft information, you can contact the FTC by telephone. You can reach a customer service representative at 1-877-438-4338. [11] X Research source
- At the end of your call, ask the representative for your reference number. The representative will record and submit your affidavit for you. You may have a copy of it emailed to you.
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Use the FTC Affidavit Form. Instead of using the online prompt system, you can go directly to the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit Form. The form is available at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0094-identity-theft-affidavit.pdf . Complete it as much as possible, keep a copy as a record, and take it with you when you report to the police.
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Continue to follow-up. Using your reference number (if you created an account), you will be able to return to IdentityTheft.gov whenever you wish. Doing this will provide you with:
- A personal recovery plan to track your progress.
- Get prefilled letters and forms. If you need letters or affidavit forms, for your credit card company or your insurance company, the IdentityTheft.gov site will provide you with completed forms that already contain the information you have provided.
- You can return and update your affidavit, if you ever learn new information that may be helpful. [12] X Research source
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Filing a Police Report
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Prepare your information. Gather all the documentation you will need for a police report. This includes a copy of the theft affidavit you filed with the FTC as well as any other proof or support you may have. Typically, you will want to have: [13] X Research source
- Valid identification
- Proof of residence
- Your personal identifying information (physical description, date of birth, social security number, height, weight, etc.)
- Brief description of any incident that occurred
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Go to your local police department. [14] X Trustworthy Source State of New York Official website for the State of New York Go to source You may want to call ahead to find out if there is a specific department or individual you need to see. Some police departments, particularly in larger cities, may have a full department devoted to identity theft and fraud related crimes.
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Complete a report on the details of your identity theft. Each office has different procedures. You might have to file a “miscellaneous incident” report if the police will not take a standard police report for this type of crime. If the police department seems reluctant to file a report for a suspected identity theft, you may need to insist. The report will be useful to you when you report to your credit agency or possibly file a loss claim with insurance. [15] X Research source
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Get a copy of the report. When you have finished filing your report with the police department, ask for a copy of the report for your records. [16] X Research source If you cannot get a copy right away, ask for the report number so you can request a copy once it is available to you.Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Reporting to Creditors and Banks
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Report to your financial agencies. Contact any credit card companies, banks, lenders or other financial institutions with whom you have a relationship. They may ask for a copy of your theft affidavit or the police report number, so you will want to have that information available before making the call.
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Change passwords. Immediately change your Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), security passwords and any other codes or references that may have been compromised.
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Notify credit bureaus. You should contact each of the three main credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, to report your concerns and file a 90-day fraud alert. Your report will go to an automated telephone system. Reporting this immediately will prevent a thief from opening new accounts in your name. [17] X Research source You will soon receive a report in the mail, with information about receiving a free copy of your credit report. [18] X Research source
- Experian – 888-397-3742
- TransUnion – 800-680-7289
- Equifax – 800-525-6285
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Review your credit report. Look carefully for any companies or open accounts you do not recognize. Contact them and provide the documentation they require to remove the account. [19] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Tips
- Document everything. Getting your identity back may take some time and a lot of phone calls, emails and letters. Keep track of who you talk to and record dates, instructions and conversation highlights.Thanks
- Check your credit reports regularly. There are protection services you can purchase to notify you of any activity on your credit report.Thanks
- Use the IdentityTheft.gov website for a wide range of information connected to protecting your information safety. Check back periodically for news and updates.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/identity-theft/identity-theft-and-identity-fraud
- ↑ https://identitytheft.gov/
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/
- ↑ https://identitytheft.gov/Assistant
- ↑ https://www.justice.gov/tax/stolen-identity-refund-fraud
- ↑ http://time.com/money/3746449/identity-theft-hacked-what-do/
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/Information
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/Summary
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/account
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/account
- ↑ https://identitytheft.gov/Top-Company-Contacts
- ↑ https://www.identitytheft.gov/account
- ↑ https://www.rocketlawyer.com/secure/interview/questions.aspx?document=55060449&id=607#q1
- ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/identitytheft.shtml
- ↑ http://www.identitytheft.info/policereport.aspx
- ↑ https://oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/victim-checklist
- ↑ http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/10-things-you-should-know-about-identity-theft-6000.php
- ↑ https://oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/victim-checklist
- ↑ https://oag.ca.gov/idtheft/facts/victim-checklist
About this article
Article Summary
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To report your social security card stolen, contact the Social Security Administration as soon as you notice it is gone. You may also want to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the local police department. After you've notified the proper authorities, closely monitor your credit reports for activity or companies you don't recognize. You can also request fraud alerts from an agency such as Equifax. For information on how to order a replacement social security card, keep reading.
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