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You should be sure to file a report
with the local police department as well as contacting the credit
reporting agencies.
If you discover an unusual inquiry or
account on your credit reports, it is important to contact a credit
reporting agency immediately. More precise instructions for making a
report can be found on each of the credit reporting agency’s websites.
In addition, phone calls to report fraud should to Equifax should be
completed through 1-800-525-6285. For Trans Union, call 1-800-680-7289.
To report fraud to Experian, call the same number you call to order a
credit report: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742). Luckily, it is only necessary
to contact one credit reporting agency about identity theft, as each is
required to contact the other two if a report has been filed.
In addition to contacting credit reporting agencies, file a report with
the local police department or with the police department in the
community where the identity theft took place. This report will help you
when dealing with creditors who require proof that the crime took place.
If the police department is reluctant to file a report or says they
don’t have a report for identity theft, request a report to be filed
under “Miscellaneous Incidents.” Or, file your report with the state
police. If you still have difficulty getting report filed, contact your
Attorney General’s office to find out about your state’s requirements
when it comes to identity theft. Contact information for the Attorney
General’s office can be obtained in the Blue Pages of your telephone
book, or you can look the information up at www.naag.org.
The next step in dealing with identity theft is to contact the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC will provide information to government
agencies and law enforcement officials throughout the nation. This helps
increase the likelihood of tracking down and catching identity thieves.
A complaint can be filed online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. A report
can also be completed by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) or by writing
to Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
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