ID Theft Survival Kit

If you think your personal information has been stolen, it’s important to act fast. The sooner you alert your bank, your lenders, and the credit bureaus, the less damage identity thieves will be able to do.  

Here are steps to take — and a list of helpful resources.

When it happens to you
Take the following steps immediately if you think you’re a victim of identity theft:

  1. File a police report. Make sure to obtain a copy of the report, so you can distribute it to lenders and credit bureaus.
  2. Contact your bank and credit issuers. Once they’re put on the alert, they can protect access to your accounts, stop payments on missing checks, change your Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and online banking passwords, and open a new account for you, if appropriate.
  3. Contact the three major credit bureaus and request a copy of your credit report. By law, they must remove any fraudulent activity from your file once they have received the police report. Request a fraud alert on your file, asking creditors to contact you before opening new accounts or changing existing ones.
  4. Complete an Identity Theft Affidavit and distribute it to creditors. You can download the form from the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer website.
  5. Send a registered letter to all creditors where fraudulent accounts have been opened. Include a copy of the police report and ID Theft Affidavit. Request that the lender send you a letter of release to acknowledge the account is fraudulent.
Important contact information
Credit Bureaus Phone Number Internet Address
Equifax 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
Experian 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) www.consumer.gov/idtheft
To Report Fraud:    
The National Fraud Information Center 1-800-876-7060 www.fraud.org
SSN Fraud Hotline Administration 1-800-269-0271 www.ssa.gov
FBI – NW3C Internet Crime Complaint Center N/A www.ic3.gov
U.S. Postal Inspection Service 1-800-372-8347 www.usps.gov/postalinspectors
Check Verification Companies: Phone Number Internet Address
Fidelity National Information Services 1-800-874-7359 www.fidelityinfoservices.com
TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898 www.telecheck.com

Useful resources  

Source
 Title
FDIC – Special Consumer News Fiscal Fitness for Older Americans: Stretching Your Savings and Shaping Up Your Financial Strategies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

OnGuard Online
FTC’s ID Theft Consumer Education Kit
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Identity Theft Resources
Identity Theft Resource Center Identity Theft Resources
AARP Free Online Seminar: Preventing Identity Theft

ID Theft FAQs

Am I liable for fraudulent charges?
By law, you are only liable for $50 of fraudulent charges on your credit card. If your ATM or debit card shows unauthorized use, your liability is also limited to $50 provided you report the fraud within two business days of discovering it. If you take longer, you may be liable for up to $500 or more in unauthorized transactions. However, many banks and lenders offer more lenient policies, so ask for details.

What if my checkbook has been stolen?
Contact the major check verification companies listed under Important contact information and request that they notify retailers using their databases not to accept your stolen checks. Also, the Shared Check Authorization Network (1-800-262-7771) can tell you if a thief has been passing bad checks in your name. Report check fraud to ChexSystems, a consumer reporting agency (1-800-428-9623).

What if my mail is tampered with?
Check with your local post office to make sure that no one has filed an unauthorized address change. For more information about mail fraud and theft, contact the US Postal Inspection Service or call 1-800-275-8777.