The Palm Springs Guru wants you to learn how to protect yourself from identity theft; I hope this information is helpful.
Review Your Accounts and Credit Reports
Regularly review statements from your accounts and periodically obtain
your credit report from one or more of the national credit reporting
companies.
You may obtain a free copy of your credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com by calling toll-free 1.877.322.8228, or by mailing an Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at www.annualcreditreport.com)
to: Annual Credit Report Request Service. P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA,
30348-5281. You may also purchase a copy of your credit report by
contacting one or more of the three national credit reporting agencies
listed below.
• |
Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0241. 1.800.685.1111. www.equifax.com |
• |
Experian, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013, 1.888.397.3742. www.experian.com |
• |
TransUnion, 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19016. 1.800.916.8800. www.transunion.com |
Consider Placing a Fraud Alert
You may wish to consider contacting the fraud department
of the three major credit bureaus to request that a "fraud alert" be
placed on your file. A fraud alert notifies potential lenders to verify
your identification before extending credit in your name.
Security Freeze for Credit Reporting Agencies
You may wish to request a security freeze on your credit
reports. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from
releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without
written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security
freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the
timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit
mortgages, employment, housing or other services. If you have been a
victim of identity theft, and you provide the credit reporting agency
with a valid police report, it cannot charge you to place, lift or
remove a security freeze. In all other cases, a credit reporting agency
may charge you up to $10.00 each to place, temporarily lift, or
permanently remove a security freeze.
To place a security freeze on your credit report, you
must send a written request to each of the three major consumer
reporting agencies by regular, certified or overnight mail at the
following addresses:
• |
Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348 |
• |
Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 |
• |
TransUnion Security Freeze, Fraud Victim Assistance Department, 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19016 |
To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following:
• |
Your full name (including middle initial, Jr., Sr., Roman numerals, etc.) |
• |
Social Security number |
• |
Date of birth |
• |
Address(es) where you have lived over the prior five years |
• |
Proof of current address such as a current utility bill |
• |
A photocopy of a government-issued ID card |
• |
If
you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police
report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency
concerning identity theft |
• |
If
you are not a victim of identity theft, include payment by check, money
order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
only). Don’t send cash through the mail. |
The credit reporting
agencies have three business days after receiving your request to place
a security freeze on your credit report. The credit bureaus must also
send written confirmation to you within five business days and provide
you with a unique personal identification number (PIN) or password, or
both that can be used by you to authorize the removal or lifting of the
security freeze.
To
lift the freeze to allow a specific entity or individual access to your
credit report, you must call or send a written request to the credit
reporting agencies by mail and include (1) proper identification (name,
address, and Social Security number), (2) the PIN number or password
provided to you when you placed the security freeze; and (3) the
identities of those entities or individuals you would like to receive
your credit report or the specific period of time you want the credit
report available. The credit reporting agencies have three business days
after receiving your request to lift the security freeze for those
identified entities or for the specified period of time.
To remove the security freeze all together, you must send
a written request to each of the three credit bureaus by mail and
include proper identification (name, address, and Social Security
number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed
the security freeze. The credit bureaus have three business days after
receiving your request to remove the security freeze.
Suggestions if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
• |
File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of a crime. |
• |
Contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC provides useful information to identity theft victims and
maintains a database of identity theft cases for use by law enforcement
agencies. File a report with the FTC by calling the FTC’s Identity Theft
Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); online at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft;
or by mail at Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission,
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Also request a copy
of the publication, "Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft"
from http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.pdf. |
• |
Keep a record of your contacts.
Start a file with copies of your credit reports, the police reports,
any correspondence, and copies of disputed bills. It is also helpful to
keep a log of your conversations with creditors, law enforcement
officials, and other relevant parties. |
Take Steps to Avoid Identity Theft Further information can be obtained from the FTC about steps to take to avoid identity theft through the following paths:
http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft;
calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); or write to Consumer Response Center,
Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
20580.
Maryland residents can learn more about preventing identity
theft from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, by visiting
their web site at
http://www.oag.state.md.us/idtheft/index.htm, calling the Identity Theft Unit at
410.567.6491, or requesting more information at the Identity Theft Unit, 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
North Carolina residents can learn more about preventing identity theft
from the North Carolina Office of the Attorney General, by visiting
their web site at
http://www.ncdoj.gov/Help-for-Victims/ID-Theft-Victims.aspx, calling
919.716.6400
or requesting more information from the North Carolina Attorney
General’s Office, 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001.
Vermont residents may learn helpful information about fighting identity
theft, placing a security freeze, and obtaining a free copy of your
credit report on the Vermont Attorney General’s website at
http://www.atg.state.vt.us
Massachusetts residents are reminded that you have the right to obtain a
police report and request a security freeze as described above. The
consumer reporting agencies may charge you a fee of up to $10 to place a
security freeze on your account, and may require that you provide
certain personal information (such as your name, Social Security Number,
date of birth and address) and proper identification (such as a copy of
a government-issued ID card and a bill or statement) prior to honoring
your request. There is no charge, however, to place, lift or remove a
security freeze if you have been a victim of identity theft and you
provide the consumer reporting agencies with a valid police report.