Save your identity, have Credit Report
Written on May 23, 2009 – 6:09 AM | by dodolovesme
A credit report holds the most personal and vital information anyone can have. The information contained in the report influences crucial decisions on loans, insurance coverage, employment—even housing. Although this information is supposed to remain top secret and extremely confidential (according to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act—FCRA), it’s relatively easy for anyone to get their hands on these personal records.
One of the potential leaks of confidentiality comes from the excessive amount of “extra hands” that are involved with your report. Banks, retail stores, and credit card issuers all have outside companies managing different aspects of their businesses. Having such a large number of people with access to this data inevitably means trouble. Criminals would love to get hold of yourcredit report. It’s the simplest way to steal your identity.
Order Your Credit Report
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you look over a copy of your credit report once a year. To protect yourself even more, you might want to think about seeing your report twice a year. A lot of damage can be done in a year—just ask any victim of identity theft.
The three biggest credit bureaus are Experian (used to be known as TRW), Eqifax, and TransUnion. All you need to do is call or contact them online, and for about $8 you will receive a copy of your report. You can receive a free report if you have recently been denied credit, been a victim of fraud, are unemployed, or receive welfare benefits. Check the Resource Guide for contact information.
If You Think You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
Check your credit report for any new accounts or credit inquires that have shown up.
Contact the credit card companies or banks where you have seen inconsistencies or problems. Ask to speak to the security or fraud department. Review your account with them and highlight any incorrect charges or unauthorized business. If it is more than a billing mistake, you should close the account immediately and change all ID numbers and passwords.
Contact the major check verification companies if you suspect someone has set up a bank account in your name or is using your stolen checks. If you can pinpoint a merchant that has received one of your stolen checks, find out which verification company they use and contact that company immediately.
Document all contacts. As with all cases dealing with victimization, you need to be your own detective. Keep a notebook documenting a log of all conversations, complete with names, dates, time of call, details, and telephone numbers.
Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus. Tell them that you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft and that you want them to put a “fraud alert” on your file and issue no new credit without your approval.
File a police report. Get a copy of the report for the bank, credit card company, or anyone else who might need proof that a crime was committed.
File a complaint with the FTC hotline (877) 488- 4338 or (877) ID-THEFT: The FTC doesn’t actually deal with the prosecution of identity theft, but it can help victims resolve financial problems that can occur as a result of the theft.
Contact the Postal Inspection Service if you think a criminal has submitted a change of address in your name or used any other postal service to commit acts of fraud.
Contact the Social Security Administration if you have reason to believe that your Social Security number is being fraudulently used.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service if you think improper use of your identity has resulted in tax violations.
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Tags: contact, credit, credit card, credit report, credit safety tip, fraud, identity, identity safe tip, identity theft, information, report, theft, victim, victim of identity
