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10 Steps to take if you are a Victim of Identity Theft
by Michelle Dunn
What can I do if I am already a victim of ID theft?
What can I do if I am already a victim of ID theft?
• Contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus, to place a fraud alert on your credit file.
• Close all accounts that have been affected and request copies of fraud-dispute forms and complete and return immediately. Keep copies!
• File a police report in each jurisdiction the theft occurred
• Send copies of the report to your creditors or anyone that requires proof of the crime
• File a complaint with the FTC (800-IDTHEFT or www.consumer.gov/idtheft) and Post Office
• Contact the Identity Theft Resource center at 858-693-7935 or www.idtheftcenter.org
• Request a new driver's license from the state of motor vehicles and have a fraud report attached to your driving record.
• Notify check-verification firms about any fraudulent checks:
International check service 800-526-5380
Telecheck 800-927-0755
Certegy Check Services 800-437-5120
• Call 1-888-CALL-FCC and file a complaint.
• Change your passwords and PIN immediately.
She has written 5 books in her Collecting Money Series. She is currently writing a book for the Streetwise Series, part of the Adams Media Corporation. In addition to writing and marketing her books, Michelle moderates and runs Credit & Collections.com and was a member of The American Collectors Association for 9 years.
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