subject: How To Report Identity Theft? [print this page] Identity theft is simply robbing of ones identity including their name, telephone number, address, credit card info and almost all the personal information.
In most of the cases these thieves would not just steal your identity but can also steal properties which are secured on the account of the victim. It can be a serious case and is known as fraud by the FTC.
Anyone can be a victim of this dangerous crime as there are no specific requirements for the theft to take place. Even the small business owners along with college students can be victims of id theft. However in case you have become a victim of id theft it is important that you instantly report identity theft.
Access the damage done
Firstly it is important you dont panic as it can lead to disconnected actions and thoughts. Before you can do anything, firstly access all the damage being done. Find out why your identity might be stolen, the extend of damage and even the damage is not instantly apparent take a stock of the consequence.
Get ready a list of all the accounts you think are affected and their damages. Check your bank accounts and credits which is generally the first thing id thieves might do. You should also find out if there are any unauthorized transactions done to any of your accounts.
Place a fraud alert
The fraud alert would be a warning placed on all your credit reports so that it warns merchants that criminals might be using these funds fraudulently. The fraud alert must be activated with all the credit reporting agencies.
You should also review your credit report by requesting a copy of your credit report when placing the fraud alert. In case you find any discrepancies then make sure you instantly report it to the agencies. Additionally make sure you also close all the accounts which you suspect are already compromised.
File complaint with the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission actually monitors and tracks all the ongoing id theft cases. It is through these cases which patterns are being recognized and the id theft is found. Therefore when you suspect of being an identity theft victim immediately report to the FTC by either calling them or by visiting their online help line website.
Report id theft to your local police department
Make sure you are prepared as it could be a frustrating experience. This is because all the police departments are not good at handling identity theft cases but they can help you with any further problem.
You can just file your report at the police station who might further take action by working with the FTC and the credit reporting agencies. You can even provide them the same copy of id theft which you submitted at the FTC.
However make sure you retain a copy of the police report with you as it can be one of the most helpful tools when you need to clean up your credit, financial and personal identification.
