鲜花( 1) 鸡蛋( 0)
|
How to report Identity Theft
How to report Identity Theft
% `1 Q) c, G9 w, O j: J& iIf you think that you have been a victim, do you know how to report identity theft? There are a number of steps you should take immediately to minimize damage, help prevent further fraud or theft and clean your good name. Keep in mind that it will take hundreds of dollars and many hours to fix the mess.
: H+ X$ }4 V9 X ^ w' s5 U) f4 r4 ]# E! e! o# o& y
& O# X% Y1 a6 L: {
3 n6 q/ {" u* L0 }5 J. n
R0 C, `/ w) {' W$ ?Step One: g' A- J3 r* l0 H% j
Contact each financial institution, credit card issuer or other company that provided the identity thief with unauthorized credit, money, goods or services. This is onw of the most important steps on how to report identity theft!
, d9 @; O2 D1 |" n5 l5 |9 j( {3 ?
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. See Sample Letter.5 @6 S/ `4 g( T
5 A1 \6 ^; G! }* [! `Send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you. If an identity thief changed the address on your account and you didn't receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill. This is one reason it's essential to keep track of your billing statements, and follow up quickly if your bills don't arrive on time., O# D. i" g6 ~$ V& }
6 \4 L# V" d. l2 l1 ^+ ~1 Z
Send your letter by certified mail, and request a return receipt. It becomes your proof of the date the creditor received the letter. Include copies (NOT originals) of your police report or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter. ; [1 }. T: l8 v# X! l z
d: P: S+ s. [: q* z
1 G" E$ D: ]% P* B! K+ {6 O
, s2 F# h( h1 `) x
Step Two+ P% _4 D0 N* h1 l
An important step on how to report identity theft is to contact the credit reporting agencies. Request to place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit file to stop the thieve to open more accounts in your name. Be aware that you need to renew this alert on a regular basis as it expires. The time varies from 3 to 12 months with the 3 credit bureaus. / `; K& s$ E% Q& {) l) z
' t, l( [% @8 x9 u6 w
2 [: w. a/ @4 o) \5 g9 z' V+ X3 F" I
# Y% d2 ~' R' L2 c( i @3 e! U( ~9 L8 ACredit Bureaus Equifax Experian: Trans Union 4 Y8 [. [' l* w( m \; V# S7 e2 i9 `
In
, J9 z# x+ {. Q' f+ K6 GCanada Consumer Relations Department! q1 K3 m# ], O7 R: ~! U# Y
1 800 465 7166
- Q, l% L; W1 p- v# K# D! ~Box 190 : I. R4 J& D) B4 B( A( r! Y
Jean Talon Station/ K. O, b4 e# O6 P
Montreal, QC
- J6 S7 u( L! t/ \$ [6 LH1S 2Z2 5 O% q9 s! e( t# c
Click here to go to the Web site( Q% c! p6 Y# r5 n% a A
1-888 826 1718
: ]! \6 w5 n/ I9 ]: ?7 \; V6 nSuite 805 P.O.
& e* v! t: B- B& e/ J' pBox 68" ^ F8 U) ~; Y0 A$ P
Toronto, ON
, V9 T' o: Y! k. K& hM5H 1J9
, M+ a& L+ T. G; b) `Click here to go to the Web site0 c2 f" F/ J; n. J
1-800-663-9980
3 v; e8 L ^: P7 F# D7 J$ a) NFraud Victim 5 `, h$ H9 @2 W
Assistance Deparment8 j' ]# |0 e% `. w5 {
P.O. Box 338, LCD 1
- }$ B- ?$ g* j& e5 i2 tHamilton, ON
9 O, x3 s1 G( tL8L 7W2
1 Y+ A$ g3 z9 a- s% s( J& ~Click here to go to the Web site
0 b/ x7 l2 k& C
9 _" H* p( `$ H; `In
7 x8 K; E( d) Athe US 1-800-685-1111
7 ~) K: h: \' CP.O. Box 740241, X5 n/ b0 F- H, o% e
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
" z C3 S! M, m+ C1 }Click here to go to the Web site. J1 B2 l5 a6 ], c; x# r0 L
1-888-397-3742
& c7 o3 N7 }, Y5 |) L; P, S! J, DP.O. Box 2002,, o2 [/ J) u& f. }5 D$ X1 C
Allen TX 75013
5 g- k$ V' \8 A3 y0 Z+ A% gClick here to go to the Web site* q% z' f9 k! P8 I6 v( x6 w
1-800-888-42132 d9 E1 H8 t4 L
P.O. Box 1000, 0 D% L7 h# Q, e4 P0 T
Chester, PA 19022
I: O4 v6 g- }# h1 X# FClick to go to the / ?0 ~# D4 [1 x& A
Web site ! e) S. p/ v% j" F/ k( E: T
' y; _9 Q9 Y; \; I0 d5 n
4 q7 y+ V: ?1 \0 m! M- K s9 Z* O0 B2 S( [4 F( h
# j- M* {: \' Y' x; d* @" D# {, t
Step Three
3 Y a0 F3 V5 P% vFile a report with your local police department. Include it in all correspondence with financial institutions, credit issuers, credit reporting agencies and other companies. You should also bring your supporting documentation. Your supporting documentation should include as much of the following information as you are able to provide:( C- |8 M# {6 u
( \: ?* v3 w. P; M4 ~( Q) tA government-issued identification document, preferably with a photo;
' z% u6 r0 F& QProof of residency that shows your name and address such as a copy of your phone or utilities billing statement, your rental agreement. " P. l; z6 Z& D* L6 t3 ?$ M
Copies of your credit reports that show inaccuracies caused by identity theft;
% Y' r. `0 h2 e2 Q1 t; }Copies of any credit cards, bills, monthly statements, or collection letters you have received relating to the identity theft; and
5 W8 c1 Z% s; U* cAnything else that shows what happened or provides information about the thief.
x& h- t8 N; L! b9 t+ kReport fraudulent activities in Canada:. Z4 u" I% O& B
4 Z! |$ I: \' _- _7 j- n$ A
Reporting Economic Crime Online: www.recol.ca % I1 p% M: D5 y+ ~4 Q
Phonebusters: 1-888-495-8501, www.phonebusters.com Phonebusters is a national anti-fraud call centre operated by law-enforcement agencies, including the RCMP. PhoneBusters provides advice on how to report identity theft and assistance to victims. ( B# Q1 |8 d3 A2 d2 z+ x, l; [0 l
Report fraudulent activities in the USA:, h% J w2 V) h( W( m5 W1 f
6 [% x( }% \% |2 ^File a complain with the Federal Trade Commission. Visit the ID Theft microsite with detailed information on how to report identity theft 7 y- @7 U! `7 p' }; ?
Download the Federal Trade commission affidavit. Included detail instructions. ID Theft Affidavit / ]* M6 M8 s' x; _* O$ X: W! J
6 {, b$ M7 ]1 h* y6 M
9 G* O0 z1 Y0 F8 x: |% g# D+ J
: w+ D3 {$ L2 @8 D1 V$ o: q/ l$ p% O) `! ] T% ~3 D
Step Four
/ I6 B2 ?9 x0 V% H; E! NIf your credit cards or government-issued documents (such as driver's licence, birth certificate or passport) have been lost or stolen, notify the issuing authority immediately to have the document cancelled and a new one issued. |
|