If you become a victim of identity theft, swift and well documented action is essential to reduce the impact. The sooner that identity theft is discovered and action is taken, the less financial and time loss to the victim.

MAINTAINING DETAILED, ORGANIZED, AND THOROUGH RECORDS IS VITAL!

• Close any accounts that were accessed or compromised.
• Keep a detailed log of all contacts with agencies including date and time of calls, copies of all written correspondence (both sent and received,) etc.
• Report the fraud to the major credit bureaus (listed below).
• Create a fraud alert on your credit reports.
• Request your free copies of your credit report. Your credit report is free if you are a victim of fraud.
• Complete the FTC ID Theft Complaint form and report to the FTC.
• Report to law enforcement and get copies of the police report.
• Request information on fraudulent accounts. Share this information with law enforcement.
• Contact additional fraud departments for creditors on affected accounts.
• Review credit reports. Contact credit bureaus if there is any inaccurate information.
• Document with followup letters. Send letters certified mail with a return receipt.
• Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with.

CREDIT REPORTING BUREAUS:

Equifax: www.equifax.com
Report fraud: (800) 766-0008
TDD: (800) 255-0056
And write: Consumer Fraud Division
P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: www.experian.com
Report fraud: (888) 397-3742
TDD: (800) 972-0322
And write: Nat'l Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 9530, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: www.transunion.com
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289
TDD: (877) 553-7803
And write: Fraud Assistance Department
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634

TO REMOVE YOUR NAME FROM JUNK MAIL LISTS:

TO OPT OUT OF PRE-APPROVED CREDIT CARD OFFERS:

(888) 567-8688

TO REMOVE YOUR NAME/PHONE NUMBER FROM TELEMARKETING LISTS:

National Do Not Call Registry:
www.donotcall.gov

OTHER RESOURCES:

Social Security Administration
Report fraud: (800) 269-0271
Or e-mail
oig.hotline@ssa.gov
For more information: www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm
Order your Earnings and Benefits Statement: (800) 772-1213

Get your free annual credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com

Identity Theft Resource Center - www.idtheftcenter.org - Learn how to prevent ID theft, read alerts on the latest scams, and find a victim assistance group in your area on the Identity Theft Resource Center website.

Fight Identity Theft - www.fightidentitytheft.com- A site with educational basics on ID theft, you can read news, sign up for a newsletter, and get tips on theft prevention.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - www.consumer.gov/idtheft- The identity theft center produced by the Federal Trade Commission offers a wealth of information for preventing and dealing with identity theft. The 'ID Theft Affidavit' allows you to send companies an alert that a fraudulent new account has been opened in your name.

Social Security, Office of the Inspector General - www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm - If your Social Security number is being misused, you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General, the agency that investigates Social Security Administration-related fraud.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse -www.privacyrights.org- The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has a collection of useful resources and first-hand victim accounts in its identity theft section.

US Postal Inspection Services - www.usps.com- or call 1-800-275-877 (1-800-ASK-USPS)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html

Internet Crime Complaint Center - www.ic3.gov