If
you have been a victim of identity theft, follow these
tips provided by the United States Postal Inspection
Service.
• Report the crime to your local police department
immediately. Obtain a case number.
• Immediately call all your creditors. Request
replacement credit cards with new account numbers.
Ask that your old accounts are flagged with a “fraud
alert” notice.
• Call the fraud units of the three credit reporting
companies – Experian (formerly TRW), Equifax,
and Trans Union. Report the theft of your credit cards/identity.
Ask that your accounts be flagged with “Fraud
Alert/Victim Impact,” and that creditors call
you before any one attempts to open future new accounts
using your name and social security number.
• Notify your banks(s) of the theft. Cancel
your old account and obtain new bank accounts. If
you use an ATM card for banking services, request
a new card and password/pin number. Memorize your
password/pin number and do not record this information
on any property contained in your wallet.
• To prove your innocence, you may be required
to fill out fraud affidavits with banks and credit
issuers. Maintain photocopies for your records and
for law enforcement use.
• If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts
set up fraudulently, report it to TeleCheck, National
Processing Company, or Equifax.
• Notify your local Postal Inspector (651-293-3200),
if you suspect mail theft, and request a Mail Theft/Vandalism
Complaint Form, PS 2016.
• Keep a log of all your contacts and make copies
of all documents.
• Contact the state office of the Department
of Motor Vehicles to see if another license was issued
in your name. If so, request a new license number
and complete a DMV complaint form. For additional
information, visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
website at www.usps.gov/postalinspectors
Credit
Bureaus:
Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348-5873
• Report fraud: Call 1-800-525-6285 and write
to address above
• Order credit report: 1-800-997-2493 and write
to address above
• Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit:
1-800-556-4711
Experian (formerly TRW)
PO Box 949
Allen, TX 75013-0949
• Report fraud: Call 1-888-397-3742 and write
to address above
• Order credit report: 1-888-397-3742
• Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and
marketing lists: 1-800-353-0809
Trans
Union
PO Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
• Report fraud: 1-800-680-7289
• Order credit report: 1-800-916-8800
• Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and
marketing lists: 1-800-680-7293
Who
to Contact:
Federal
Trade Commission
• 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
• Ensure you file a complaint with the FTC
MN
State Attorney General’s Office–Consumer
Division
651-296-3353
Social Security Administration
• Fraud hotline: 1-800-269-0271
• Order your Earnings and Benefit Statement:
1-800-722-1213
Mailing
Lists:
To remove
your name from mail and phone lists, write to:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY, 11735
Telephone Preference Service
PO Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735
1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) to remove name from pre-approved
credit card solicitations
Check Fraud:
To report
fraudulent use of your checks, call:
• CheckRite: 1-800-766-2748
• Chexsystems: 1-800-428-9623
• Equifax: 1-800-437-5120
• National Processing Co.: 1-800-526-5380
• Scan: 1-800-262-7771
• Telecheck: 1-800-710-9898
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