Dear sherpaj-ga;
Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. I've
been in law enforcement for more than two decades and I've watched
this crime evolve from an occassional clever con game to a crime as
rampant as a destructive widfire. There was a time when a fraudster
almost had to ba a magician in order to pull off this crime but today
even a child with some technical skills can get some of your
information.
One of the most insidious types of identify theft is "account-takeover
fraud" or "true-name fraud". This is a tactic that involves someone
assuming your identity by applying for credit, running up huge bills
and stiffing creditors ? and sticking you with the bad credit and
bills.
Many thieves depend on their victims? lack of ability to respond
proptly to their efforts to open accounts or make charges and while
your head is reeling from the crime they are living it up at your
expense. By the time you get a handle on the situation they?ve already
done the damage and moved on to a new victim. It sounds terrible to
say but the best trick is to minimize the amount of time and
opportunity these thieves have with YOUR data and to put enough
roadblocks in their way that they?ll abandon you for an easier target.
There are both proactive and reactive things you can if you fall
victim to this type of theft.
First, if you?ve been victimized, call your local police department
right away. File a police report.
. . . . . . . .
If you think you?ve been victimized, get a copy of your credit report.
It lists all of the lines of credit in your name. Check to be sure
that everything is accurate, that all of the accounts are really yours
and that accounts you have requested to be closed are marked closed.
Bureau reports cost around $8 each. The report may also show where
credit was applied for and where credit was denied.
To order credit bureau reports, call:
TransUnion Credit Services 800-888-4213
Equifax Credit Services 800-685-1111
Experian Credit Services 888-397-3742
. . . . . . . .
Call the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft hotline at 1 (877)
IDTHEFT. The hotline is staffed by counselors trained to help ID
theft victims. Check out the FTC Web Site:
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
This site includes an Identity Theft Affidavit to help simplify the
process of clearing up accounts opened by an identity thief. This can
help stop some thefts BEFORE they occur if your data is out there
floating around in the hands of a thief:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf
. . . . . . . .
Notify your banks RIGHT NOW. You can get a new account number assigned
to most of your savings accounts, checking accounts, credit cards,
etc. Be sure to get new PIN numbers too if you have any ATM and debit
cards. If there happends to be a credit card that you cannot get the
number changed on, close that account immediately if the card of one
of the cards missing.
. . . . . . . .
In a worst case scenario contact the Social Security Administration to
get a new Social Security number. Their telephone number is
800-772-1213.
. . . . . . . .
Just in case the thieve might be local and tries something really
stupid, you might want to call your local utility companies and alert
them to the fact that someone might try to open accounts using your
personal data. (electric, gas, water, cable/satellite, telephone,
etc.)
. . . . . . . .
Keep a diary of every person, company, agency or organization you talk
to about this issue. Record the telephone number and the date of the
conversation and be sure to get the name of the person you spoke to.
Why is this important? Because later on when someone tries to sue you
for buying a $4000 plasma TV and failing to pay for it you?ll have a
running record of your attempts to address the problem. It might not
satisfy some of these creditors but it may go a long way toward
proving your innocence in court.
. . . . . . . .
I?ve spent many years in law enforcement and after reading this
article I can safely say that it is an excellent ?must read? guide of
immediate responses for anyone in your position:
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
?When bad things happen to your good name?
Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm
Here is another consumer guide that I was quite impressed with that
goes into detail about what steps to take immediately after finding
out someone is preying on your identity::
PRIVACY RIGHTS CLEARINGHOUSE
?Identity Theft: What to Do if It Happens to You?
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm
I hope you find that my research exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
INFORMATION SOURCES
CONSUMER CONNECTION
http://www.aba.com/Consumer+Connection/CNC_contips_idtheft.htm
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
?When bad things happen to your good name?
Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm
PRIVACY RIGHTS CLEARINGHOUSE
?Identity Theft: What to Do if It Happens to You?
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
Identity theft
Federal trace commission
Consumer alert |
