We are in the process of preparing online tools to help protect you against ID theft. If you're a victim of identity theft - or even suspect you're a victim - the following action steps will guide you through the process of resolving thefts that affect your financial accounts, as well as any other accounts you may have with other companies.

Steps to Take

Please take action and follow these steps immediately, and be sure to keep a record of all conversations and correspondence.

First, if you have not already done so, immediately call the fraud department of every one of your banks and card issuers and of each company where an account was opened in your name by an identity thief, so the following can be done:

>> Protect access to any accounts that are still open
>> Change Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and online banking/card passwords, if appropriate
>> Open new accounts, if appropriate find out how each company would like you to proceed
(Note: Ask each company if they accept the forms described below in Step 2, what other documents they require, where you should send your documents, and if they require notarization or a copy of the police report.)

Second, call one of the following national consumer reporting agencies and ask them to place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit report. They will contact the other two agencies on your behalf and send you a free copy of your credit report. (Note: When you get your report, check it for accounts opened or “inquiries” made that were unauthorized by you, and ask the agency to remove them.)

>> Trans Union: toll-free (800) 680-7289
>> Experian: toll-free (888) 397-3742
>> Equifax: toll-free (800) 525-6285

Third, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC maintains the federal government’s centralized identity theft database. They not only can give you helpful information, but will also share information with law enforcement nationwide, with other government agencies, and with companies where fraud was perpetrated to help resolve theft-related problems.

Tell the Police

Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Consumer Response Center:
Toll-free (877) 438-4338, www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Check Your Mail

Make sure you receive all of your monthly bills and statements, and check for unauthorized address, title or PIN change requests as well as card or check orders requested in your name for a new address. If a thief has falsified change-of-address forms in your name or stolen your mail to get credit cards, bank and credit card statements, pre-screened credit offers or tax information, that’s a serious crime. Contact your local post office and police.

Start Your ID Theft Diary

Write down everything. Make lists of what was lost or stolen and when, and the steps you took to report it to the various agencies, banks, and other companies affected. Record the date, time, contact telephone number, and names of people you spoke to, what the issue was and their instructions or comments. The enclosed Account Record and Activity Log will help you organize all of this information.