Hi pentium!!
See this situation:
Your wallet containing your credit cards is stolen from you. Because
many stores don’t ask for identification or compare the signature on
the back of your card with your receipt, thieves find easy to use them
to make purchases at stores, on the Internet, over the phone, or by
mail. Telemarketing and e-commerce meke not necessary to have the
physical card to make purchases, all the thief needs is your name and
account number. The thief can arrange for the goods to be delivered to
a different address. Also if fraudulent merchants have your credit or
debit card account numbers, they can charge or debit you for purchases
you never agreed to make.
If something of this happens to you, you are an ID Theft victim. But
don’t panic, help is available. You will need to remain calm and get
info about the process of resolving the problem.
Under federal law, you are not responsible for more than $50 if
someone uses your credit card without authorization, and most issuers
will remove the charges completely if you report the problem as soon
as you discover it.
Now you only need to know What is an ID Theft? and What you must do if
you are a victim of a credit card fraud?
"What is identity theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, address, Social
Security number (SSN), bank or credit card account number, or other
identifying information without your knowledge to commit fraud or
theft."
From "UNDERSTANDING ID THEFT" a Federal Trade Commission page:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/idtheft_testing/consumertopics.html
From the "ID THEFT HOME" page we can read the following:
"How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs when
someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social
Security number, credit card number or other identifying information,
without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been
stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money -
cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit
record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be
refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for
crimes they didn't commit.
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:
1. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit
bureaus to get your credit report for review and to place a fraud
alert on your credit file. The fraud alert tells creditors to contact
you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your
existing accounts. Credit reports are free to victims of fraud (once
every twelve months).
2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with
or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new
unauthorized accounts.
3. File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your
creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of
identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for
investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about
identity theft and the problems victims are having so that better
assistance and better remedies to the problem can be developed."
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/idtheft_testing/index120177.html
More detailed info can be found at the following document:
"ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name"
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.pdf
You must read this document, you will find valuable info about this
topic, here I transcribe a summary of the "IF YOU'RE A VICTIM (of an
ID Theft)" section of this document:
"IF YOU'RE A VICTIM:
If you suspect that your personal information has been hijacked and
misappropriated to commit fraud or theft, take action immediately, and
keep a record of your conversations and correspondence. You may want
to use the attached form
[http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheftform.pdf]. Three
basic actions are appropriate in almost every case:
-FIRST, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major
credit bureaus (see the list of bureaus at the end of this summary):
Tell them that you're an identity theft victim. Request that a "fraud
alert" be placed in your file, as well as a victim's statement asking
that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing
your existing accounts. At the same time, order copies of your credit
reports from the credit bureaus. Credit bureaus must give you a free
copy of your report if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, and
you request it in writing. Review your reports carefully. Also, check
the section of your report that lists "inquiries". Where "inquiries"
appear from the company(ies) that opened the fraudulent account(s),
request that these "inquiries" be removed from your report. (See
"Credit Reports", page 15, for more information.) In a few months,
order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and
changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Please note: Creditors do not have to consider Fraud alerts and victim
statements when granting credit. That’s why it’s vital to continue
checking your reports periodically. In addition, fraud alerts and
victim statements expire; you need to renew them periodically. Ask
each bureau about its policy.
-SECOND, close the accounts that you know or believe have been
tampered with or opened fraudulently:
Credit Accounts
Credit accounts include all accounts with banks, credit card companies
and other lenders, and phone companies, utilities, ISPs, and other
service providers. If you are closing your existing accounts, use new
Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords when you open new
accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mothers
maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your
phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
If the identity thief has made charges or debits, ask the company
about the following forms for disputing those transactions:
-For New Unauthorized Accounts: Does the company accept the ID Theft
Affidavit? If not, ask the representative to send you the company’s
fraud dispute forms.
(Download the IDTheft Affidavit in PDF format:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf)
-For Your Existing Accounts: Ask the representative to send you the
company’s fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn’t have special
forms, use the following sample letter:
- Sample Dispute Letter — For Existing Credit Accounts:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm#ccletter
-THIRD, file a report with your local police or the police in the
community where the identity theft took place:
Get a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company
or others need proof of the crime. Even if the police can't catch the
identity thief in your case, having a copy of the police report can
help you when dealing with creditors.
Tips on Filing a Police Report:
·Provide documentation. Furnish as much documentation as you can to
prove your case. Debt collection letters, credit reports, your
notarized ID Theft Affidavit, and other evidence of fraudulent
activity can help the police file a complete report.
·Be persistent. Local authorities may tell you that they can’t take a
report. Stress the importance of a police report; many creditors
require one to resolve your dispute. Also remind them that under their
voluntary “Police Report Initiative,” credit bureaus will
automatically block the fraudulent accounts and bad debts from
appearing on your credit report, but only if you can give them a copy
of the police report. If you can’t get the local police to take a
report, try your county police. If that doesn’t work, try your state
police.
If you’re told that identity theft is not a crime under your state
law, ask to file a Miscellaneous Incident Report instead. (See page 25
for a list of state laws).
·Be a motivating force. Ask your police department to search the FTC’s
Consumer Sentinel database for other complaints in your community. You
may not be the first or only victim of this identity thief. If there
is a pattern of cases, local authorities may give your case more
consideration.
That’s why it’s also important to file a complaint with the FTC. Law
enforcement agencies use complaints filed with the FTC to aggregate
cases, spot patterns, and track growth in identity theft. This
information can then be used to improve investigations and victim
assistance.
Tips on Organizing Your Case:
Accurate and complete records will greatly improve your chances of
resolving your identity theft case:
·Follow up in writing with all contacts you’ve made on the phone or in
person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested.
·Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send.
·Write down the name of anyone you talk to, what he or she told you,
and the date the conversation occurred. Use Chart Your Course of
Action on page 14 to help you.
·Keep the originals of supporting documentation, like police reports,
and letters to and from creditors; send copies only.
·Set up a filing system for easy access to your paperwork.
·Keep old files even if you believe your case is closed. One of the
most difficult and annoying aspects of identity theft is that errors
can reappear on your credit reports or your information can be
re-circulated. Should this happen, you’ll be glad you kept your files.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three major Credit Bureaus:
-Equifax -
www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Hearing impaired call 1-800-255-0056 and ask the operator to call the
Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your
report.
-Experian -
www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write:
P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write:
P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
TDD: 1-800-972-0322
-Trans Union -
www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-916-8800 or write:
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289 and write:
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
TDD: 1-877-553-7803
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the "RESOLVING CREDIT PROBLEMS" section I take the following:
"Credit Cards:
In most cases, the Truth in Lending Act limits your liability for
unauthorized credit card charges to $50 per card. The Fair Credit
Billing Act (FCBA) establishes procedures for resolving billing errors
on your credit card accounts. This includes fraudulent charges on your
accounts.
To take advantage of the law's consumer protections, you must:
·write to the creditor at the address given for "billing inquiries,"
not the address for sending your payments. Include your name, address,
account number and a description of the billing error, including the
amount and date of the error. Your letter may look something like the
sample below.
·send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days
after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you. If the
address on your account was changed by an identity thief and you never
received the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor
within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill. This
is why it's so important to keep track of your billing statements and
immediately follow up when your bills don't arrive on time.
·Send your letter by certified mail, and request a return receipt.
This will be your proof of the date the creditor received the letter.
Include copies (NOT originals) of sales slips or other documents that
support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter.
·The creditor must acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30
days after receiving it, unless the problem has been resolved. The
creditor must resolve the dispute within two billing cycles (but not
more than 90 days) after receiving your letter."
Please see also the following pages (specially the two first ones,
which complement the previous document):
"Fair Credit Billing":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcb.htm
"Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What to do if They're Lost or Stolen":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm
"Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/cards.htm
From the "THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE Central District of
California" website you have the following "Identity Theft Quick
Reference Guide":
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/idtheftquickreference.html
Regarding the question "Can I get that guy?", the chances are low, and
require the intervention of the police and/or FBI.
"It isn’t always possible for the police to investigate every
individual case of ID theft, but making an official report can help
you as you fight to clear your name, and the information you provide
may be used to stop the thief from victimizing others. If you know
where the theft occurred, contact the police in that city or town;
otherwise, call your local police. Insist on making a formal police
report and request a copy."
From "For Victims (of ID theft): What to do?" page:
http://www.nclnet.org/privacy/idtheft/victims.htm
At the "Federal Resources Guide" page of "THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S
OFFICE Central District of California" website we can read:
"FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI)
www.fbi.gov
The FBI investigates federal identity theft cases, including those
where an identity thief used your personal identifying information to
commit a crime. Although the FBI generally investigates cases where
there is a significant dollar loss, your information may provide
evidence of a larger pattern of fraud. If your identity has been
stolen, call your local FBI field office. Local FBI field offices are
listed in the Government section of your White Pages telephone
directory."
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/federalresources.html
For additional info you can also download the educational video “Stop
Identity Theft Now" (Note: This is a very large file (Approx. 240
MB)):
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/IDTheftVideo.avi
Text Transcript of the "Stop Identity Theft Now" Video:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cac/identitytext.html
"ID THEFT - Homepage":
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html
Because in other questions you states that you was in Spain, I will
give you some links with info in Spanish language:
" Bienvenido a la Comisión Federal de Comercio":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/idtheft_testing/espanol.html
"Robo de Identidad...Un Crimen Insidioso":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/spanish/general/s-idtheftfact.htm
"Declaración Jurada de Robo de Identidad / Instrucciones y
Formulario":
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/spanish/credit/s-affidavit.pdf
Search strategy:
credit card fraud
id theft
I hope this helps you.
If you find something obscure or unclear in this answer, please feel
free to post a request for a clarification; this answer will not be
considered finished until your entire satisfaction with it.
Best regards.
livioflores-ga |
,
0 Comments
)