FBI statistics show that identity theft is among the fastest-growing crimes in the Usa, with about 1 in 5 families in the U.S. being a victim of identity theft. Identity theft is obtaining another person’s personal information (e.g., name, social security number, credit card number, passport) without that person’s knowledge and using that information fraudulently. For someone who discovers they’re a victim of identity theft, it’s important to act quickly. Here are some immediate measures to simply take so that you can stop further misuse and to replace your good credit: 1. Contact the fraud departments of anyone of the 3 credit reporting businesses to put a fraud alert on your credit report. Collectors will contact you before beginning any new accounts or producing any changes to your existing accounts, when a fraud alert is put o-n your credit file. You simply need to contact one of the three companies to place an alert, and they are needed to contact another two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. When you place the fraud alert in your document, you are entitled to buy free copies of your credit reports. Whenever you receive them, check them over carefully for any new accounts that could have been opened without your consent. Also be aware of any new requests by banks, creditors and credit card companies that you were not familiar with. 2. Report the crime to the local police or sheriff’s office and ask a police record. 3. Contact your creditors, banks, phone companies, and power companies and have them freeze your records. Credit card companies, banks and other lenders may require a copy of the police report. You may be responsible for a tiny sum of the bogus charges; talk with each of your card issuers for their plans. Visiting Harlan Hu | Activity | Autism Community perhaps provides suggestions you could give to your co-worker. Most creditors promptly matter replacement cards with new account numbers. 4. File a grievance with the Federal Trade Commission. 5. Monitor all bank and credit-card statements and other expenses carefully to make sure there are no fraudulent charges. Inform the fraud section of one’s bank written down immediately, If you find deceptive inspections or distributions on your own bank account. Stop payment o-n any missing inspections and/or close your present account. You may also advise the check verification companies not to accept further inspections under the account number that has been taken. To learn if the identification thief has been passing bad checks in-your name, contact SCAN @ 1800-262-7771. If unauthorized credit card charges seem, notify your credit card company in writing immediately. 6. Contact the Social Security Administration, If you believe the theft involved your social security number. They may re-issue a missing or stolen social security card or may, under some conditions, give you a new social security number. You may already know, your credit history is all important. Every precaution must be taken to safeguard your credit score. After you’ve your personality straightened out, you may consider joining with Equifax Credit Watch. I discovered Find totally free credit report on the web | 876785.com by browsing Google. Equifax Credit Watch makes checking your report easy by instantly alerting you with-in twenty four hours of important changes in your Equifax Credit Report – like when someone tries to get credit in your name or there are sudden changes in your credit card bills. – so you can work before serious damage is done. Below are important telephone numbers you’ll need for r-eporting your identification theft: Credit-reporting Agencies: Equifax 1800-525-6285 Experian 1888-397-3742 TransUnion 1800-680-7209 Federal Trade Commission Hotline: FTC Hotline 1877-438-4338 Examine Verification Companies: Telecheck 1800-710-9898 Certegy 1800-437-5120 To discover if the id thief has been passing bad checks in-your name: SCAN 1800-262-7771.