PLEASE NOTE:
IF YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE IS USING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AND
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF OTHER IDENTITY FRAUD, PLEASE SEE THE SECTION ON
CONTACTING THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IN SECTION #5. DO NOT CONTACT THE
EMPLOYER DIRECTLY AS THEY MAY WARN THE SUSPECT EMPLOYEE.
IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS PACKET.
IF YOUR NAME AND/OR INFORMATION IS USED BY SOMEONE ELSE IN ORDER TO AVOID A
TRAFFIC TICKET OR ANY CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE AGENCY
INVESTIGATING THE ORIGINAL CRIME.
IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS PACKET.
HELPFUL HINTS:
♦ REMEMBER THAT EACH CREDITOR HAS DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
CORRECTING FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS.
♦ DO NOT PROVIDE ORIGINALS AND BE SURE TO KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING YOU PROVIDE
TO THE CREDITORS OR COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE IDENTITY THEFT.
♦ WRITE DOWN ALL DATES, TIMES, PHONE NUMBERS AND THE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS YOU
SPEAK TO REGARDING THE IDENTITY THEFT AND CORRECTION OF YOUR CREDIT.
(See the Worksheet at the back of this packet.)
STEP 1: CONTACT YOUR BANK AND OTHER CREDIT CARD ISSUERS
If the theft involved existing bank accounts, checking or savings accounts as well as credit or debt cards,
you should do the following:
● Close the account(s) used fraudulently or have stop payments issued on all outstanding checks
that might have been written without your knowledge.
● Close all credit card accounts that were used fraudulently.
● Close any account(s) accessible by debit card if it has been accessed fraudulently.
● Open new account(s) protected with a secret password or personal identification number (PIN).
If your theft resulted in identity theft involving the creation of new bank accounts you should call the
involved financial institution(s) and notify them of the identity theft. The involved financial institution(s) will
likely require additional notification. (See Step 4)
STEP 2: CONTACT ALL THREE (3) MAJOR CREDIT REPORTING BUREAUS
Request the credit bureaus place a “Fraud Alert” on your file. A Fraud Alert will place a notice on your
credit report indicating that you have been the victim of identity theft. Merchants and financial institutions
may opt to contact you directly before any new credit is taken out in your name. Some states allow for a
SECURITY FREEZE in which a PIN # can be designated on your credit file. Subsequently, the PIN #
must be given in order for credit to be extended. You should ask the credit reporting bureaus if your state
participates in the Security Freeze Program.
Provides useful information related to identity theft and indicates which states
participate in the Security Freeze Program.
Provides one free credit report, per credit bureau agency, per year with
subsequent credit reports available at a nominal fee.
The following is a list of the three (3) major credit reporting bureaus for victims to report fraud:
Equifax
TransUnion
Experian
Consumer Fraud Division
Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
Nat. Consumer Assist
800-525-6285
800-680-7289
888-397-3742
P.O. Box 740241
P.O. Box 6790
P.O. Box 9532
Atlanta, GA 30374
Fullerton, CA 92834
Allen, TX 75013
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