1) Place a “fraud alert” on your credit report. Contact these three major credit bureaus to report the fraud and obtain free credit reports:<\/P>
\n
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285<\/P>
\n
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241<\/P>
\n
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)<\/P>
\n
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013<\/P>
\n
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289<\/P>
\n
Fraud Victim Assistance Division<\/P>
\n
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790<\/P>
\n
2) Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. If you’re closing existing accounts and opening new ones, use a new PIN and passwords.<\/P>
\n
3) If your checks have been stolen or misused, close the account and ask your bank to notify the appropriate check verification service.<\/P>
\n
4) Call SCAN (1-800-262-7771) to find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name.<\/P>
\n
5) File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the ID theft took place.<\/P>
\n
6) Keep a copy of the report if you need to validate your claims with creditors. If you can’t get a copy, get the report number.<\/P>
\n
7) File a complaint with the FTC. Visit http:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/bcp\/edu\/microsites\/idtheft\/<\/A> or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or write the Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Federal Trade Commission recommends taking the following steps if you are the victim or identity theft. Read full article