| IDENTITY THEFT - INDENTITY CRISIS | | | | corrections and changes and to make sure no |
| If your identity is stolen, the Federal Trade | | | | new fraudulent activity has occurred. |
| Commission (FTC) recommends that you take | | | | CREDIT BUREAUS |
| three immediately actions. | | | | Equifax |
| With the protections of the Identity Theft Shield | | | | Experian |
| you would not have to worry about the following: | | | | Trans Union |
| First, you must contact the fraud departments of | | | | Second, you must contact the creditors for any |
| each of the three major credit bureaus.(See | | | | accounts that have been tampered with or |
| below) Tell them to flag you file with a fraud alert | | | | opened fraudulently. Ask to speak with someone |
| including a statement that creditors should get | | | | in the fraud/security department and follow up in |
| your permission before opening any new accounts | | | | writing. Following up with a letter is very |
| in your name. At the same time, ask the credit | | | | important. It is part of the record. |
| bureaus for copies of your credit reports. Credit | | | | Third, you must file a report with your local police |
| bureaus must give you a free copy of your | | | | or the police in the community where the identity |
| report if it is inaccurate because of fraud. Check | | | | theft took place. Keep a copy in case your |
| your reports carefully to make sure no additional | | | | creditors need proof of the crime. |
| fraudulent accounts have been opened in your | | | | People whose identities have been stolen can |
| name or unauthorized changes made to your | | | | spend months or even years and thousands of |
| existing accounts. For the next several months, | | | | dollars to clean up the mess the thieves have |
| order new copies of your reports to verify your | | | | made of their good name and credit record. |