5 Steps to Reporting Identity Theft for You or Your Family - Easy, Fast

If you suspect that someone has stolen your identity, what should you do? According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can take steps immediately to minimize the potential damage.

Step 1: Contact the Police

The first step is to file a report with the police in the community where the theft occurred. Make sure you get a copy of this report, as you will need to provide it, or at least be able to reference the number of the report, when you are taking the next steps. Police departments are usually responsive to victims of identity theft, taking down a report on the first request 58% of the time. But if you do meet with resistance in trying to file a report, you can ask that the police file a “miscellaneous incidents” report or go to a different community or even the state police.

Step 2: online Identity Theft Complaint form

Next, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ID Theft hotline, at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or go to the Federal Trade Commision’s website and fill out the ID Theft Complaint form online. You will also find advice about the next steps you need to take from the FTC.

Step 3: Contact finanacial institutions

You will also want to contact all the credit institutions you do business with to alert them to the theft and to close all your accounts. This includes all bank accounts and credit card accounts. When opening new accounts choose new passwords that will not be easy for someone to figure out. Avoid using your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, part of your Social Security number or your phone number.

Step 4: Fraud Alerts on Credit Reports

The point of this is to prevent the identity thief from opening new accounts in your name. There are three credit reporting companies across the U.S., and whichever one you contact must notify the other two.

They are: TransUnion, at 1-800-680-7289; Equifax at 1-800-525-6285; and Experian, 1-888-397-3742. Ask for extended fraud alerts on your accounts, which will last for seven years.

If your Social Security card was stolen, immediately contact the Social Security Administration (SSA). You will likely be issued either a new number or a replacement card. Since Social Security cards may be bought and sold by those involved in terrorist or other illegal activities, you should also notify the Office of the Inspector General at the SSA that your card has been stolen.

Step 5 - Cover your tracks

Finally, you should cancel and replace any other identifying documents in your name, such as your driver’s license. Alert the agency to be on the look-out for someone attempting to get documents in your name.

After completing these initial steps, you must keep an eye on your credit reports. You can obtain these free of charge once you have placed fraud alerts on your reports. Carefully review these reports for any activity that you didn’t initiate, and make sure any fraudulent information is removed.

The more quickly and thoroughly you move to report identity theft, the easier it will be to reclaim your identity.