Identity Theft Victim's Checklist
12 Steps To Recovery

Proving That You Are An Identity Theft Victim

In order to prove that you are an Identity Theft Victim, you will need "information about" or "copies of":

1. Credit Applications
2. Account Applications and/or
3. Transaction Records related to the theft of your identity. 

These records or documents may also contain information about the identity thief that will be valuable to the police.

For example: Showing that a signature on an application is not yours. 

By law, if you submit your request in writing accompanied by a police report, companies must provide you with a copy of the application or other business transaction records relating to your identity theft

Here is the web address of the FTC's model letter which can be used to obtain this information from businesses.

12 Steps To Recovery

If you are a victim of identity theft, you should take steps to respond to the theft and to recover from it as soon as you suspect it has occurred.  Keep records of the details of all of your conversations and keep copies of all correspondence relating to the recovery actions that you take.

Below are steps that will help you get on your Road to Recovery.

1.  Report The Fraud To The Three National Credit Agencies

Report an identity theft to all three of the major credit agencies by calling them toll-free on the fraud numbers listed below. You will not be able to speak to anyone on your first call but will reach an automated telephone system.

The system will ask you for your Social Security number and other information to identify yourself. The automated system will  allow you to flag your file with a fraud alert for all three credit agencies. This flag will help stop a thief from opening new accounts in your name. The alert will stay on your file for 90 days.

Each of the credit agencies will send you a letter confirming your fraud alert and they will give you instructions on how to get a copy of your credit report. As a victim of identity theft, these report will be free.  Included with each report will be a telephone number that you can call to speak with someone in the credit agency's fraud department.

• Experian 1-888-397-3742
• Equifax 1-800-525-6285
• TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

Once you notify the credit agencies about the fraudulent accounts:

1. The agency is required to block that information from future reports
2. The agency must notify the credit grantor of the fraudulent account.

2.  Write A Letter To The National Credit Agencies.

After you make your phone calls, write a letter to each credit agency.  In the letter, include the following:

1. Repeat what you stated in your telephone call.  (see above).
2. Include copies of your police report and completed ID Theft Affidavit.
3. Remind the credit agencies that because you are an Identity Theft Victim, they must remove or block any information that you say is a result of the theft.
4. Instruct the credit agencies to remove inquiries that have been generated due to the fraudulent access.
5. You can also ask the credit bureaus to notify those who have received your credit report in the last six months to alert them to the disputed and erroneous information.

Send your letters by certified mail with a return receipt requested.  Keep a copy of each letter.
In all communications with the credit bureaus, you will want to refer to the unique number assigned to your credit report

Equifax P.O Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian P.O. Box 9532 Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834

You can also dispute items with the credit agencies online. Go to their websites and look for the topic of “dispute”:
www.equifax.com
www.experian.com
www.transunion.com.

3.  Carefully Review Your Credit Reports

You should receive a report from all three credit agencies.  Read through them carefully
Be sure to save all credit reports as part of your fraud documentation file.

• Look for accounts you do not recognize.
• Look in the Inquiries Section for the names of creditors from whom you have not requested credit.
• You might find some inquiries identified as “promotional.”  Promotional inquiries are not signs of fraud. These happen when a company gets your name and address from a credit bureau so they can send you an offer of credit.  When you call in to report your identity theft, your name will be automatically removed from the mailing list that enables you to receive these unsolicited credit offers. 
• Also look in the Personal Information Section and verify your name, address, and Social Security number.

Report fraudulent accounts and erroneous information in writing to both the credit bureaus and the credit issuers following the instructions provided with the credit reports. Ask the credit agencies for the names and phone numbers of credit grantors with whom fraudulent accounts have been opened if this information is not included on the credit report.  

If you see anything you do not understand, then call the credit agency at the telephone number that is listed on the report. Tell them you want to remove or block any information on the report that is the result of the identity theft.  You may have to send them a police identity theft report to support your request.

Order new credit reports approximately every three months until your theft situation has cleared up. They may request that you pay about $10 for each of these additional reports, but tell them you are an Identity Theft Victim and ask for free copies.

4.  Monitor Your Credit Reports

Be aware that credit issuers do not always pay attention to fraud alerts, even though the law now requires it. Thus, it is highly  recommended that you check your credit reports again in a few months.

The federal FACTA law enables you to receive one free credit report per year from each of the three credit agencies.  This is in addition to the free reports you get when you place fraud alerts on your three credit reports.  Once you have received your free credit reports as a part of the fraud-alert process, you should follow up in a few months by taking advantage of your free FACTA copy.  It is recommended that you order your free credit reports by phone rather than using the online system.

Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity happens.

5.  Requesting A Credit Freeze (Security Freeze)

Contact the three national credit reporting agencies and place a "Credit Freeze" on your credit reports.  When you freeze your credit reports you can stop credit issuers from accessing your credit files, except when you give permission.  This effectively prevents thieves from opening up new loan accounts and credit card accounts.

In most states, there is no charge for a Credit Freeze for identity theft victims.  There is a small fee for non-victims.
Some states make the Credit Freeze available only to identity theft victims.  See more about Credit Freezes.

• The Consumers Union has a Guide to Credit Freeze Protection that lists state-by-state information.

6. Requesting A Fraud Alert

In addition to a Credit Freeze, you can also place a Fraud Alert on your credit reports.  When you notify one of the agencies that you are a victim of identity theft (or at risk of being a victim),  they are required to notify the other two agencies for you.  Placing a fraud alert means that your file will be flagged and that creditors will be required to call you before extending credit.

It is recommend that you do not call Experian. You will be given a marketing pitch for their "free" credit management tools. If you fail to cancel the service within 30 days, your credit card will automatically be charged for the service.

If you place an Initial Fraud Alert on your credit report, this will allow you to receive one free credit report from each of the three major consumer reporting agencies when you request it.  Under new provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can place an initial fraud alert for only 90 days.  Each of the credit agencies will then mail you a notice of your rights as an identity theft victim.  If you do not receive a confirmation from a company, you should contact them directly and ask them to place a fraud alert. You can also ask them to only allow the last four digits of your Social Security number to appear on your credit reports. 

You can then have an Extended Fraud Alert put on your credit report if you have been a victim of identity theft and it will stay on your credit report for seven years.  But prior to getting an Extended Fraud Alert put on your credit report, you will first have to send them:

1. Evidence of attempts to open fraudulent accounts in your name
2. An Identity Theft Report.  See Filing an Identity Theft Report.

If you have an extended fraud alert, then potential creditors must contact you or meet with you in person before they can issue any credit that was requested.

Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name.  For more information on Fraud Alerts, so the topic on Fraud Alerts.

7.  Close All Tampered or Fraudulently Opened Accounts

If an identity thief has made debits or charges on your accounts, or has fraudulently opened accounts using your name, then ask the company for the forms you need to dispute those transactions:

• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn't have a special form, then you can use the FTC sample letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits.  Mail the letter to the company's  "billing inquiries" address.
• For new unauthorized accounts, you can either file a dispute directly with the company or file a report with the police and provide a copy, called an “Identity Theft Report,” to the company.
   
  • If you file a dispute directly with the company (and do not want to file a report with the police) then find out if the company accepts the FTC’s ID Theft Affidavit.
  • If they do not accept the FTC Affidavit, then ask them to send you the company's fraud dispute form.
  • Be aware that filing a report with the police and then giving the company an Identity Theft Report will give you more protection.  For example, if the company has already reported these unauthorized accounts or debts on your credit report, then an Identity Theft Report will force them to stop reporting the fraudulent information.

Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask them for a letter acknowledging that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts.  This letter is your best form of proof if more errors relating to this account appear on your credit report or if you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.

8.  Call The Creditors.

Call creditors of any accounts that the thief used or opened in your name. When you contact them, ask for the security or fraud department. Examples of creditors are phone companies, credit card companies,  other lenders, utility companies and department stores.  Inform them you are a victim of identity theft and ask them to not hold you responsible for new accounts that were opened by the thief.

If your existing credit accounts were fraudulently used, then ask the credit issuers to close those accounts and report them to the credit agencies as being “closed at the consumer’s request.”

If you open a new account, then

1. Have it set up so access requires a PIN or password.
2. Don’t use your birth date, the last four numbers of your SSN or your mother’s maiden name for your password.  These can be easy for an identity thief to find out.
3. Ask the creditors to give you copies of the documentation on the fraudulent accounts

9.  Write A Letter To The Creditors.

Follow up your phone conversation with a letter.  It's important that you notify banks and credit card companies in writing. Send your letters by certified mail with a return receipt requested.  It is important that you document what you sent the companies and when they received it.

• Include with your letter, copies (NOT originals) of any supporting documents.
• Repeat what you stated in your telephone call to them.
• Include a copy of your police report.
• Include a copy of your completed ID Theft Affidavit (black out the account number of any accounts with other creditors)

10.  Should You File A Police Report?

An Identity Theft Report is a police report with more than the usual amount of detail.

You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute. When an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.

See the Topic Identity Theft Police Report for more information on filing an Identity Theft Report with the police

11.  Use the ID Theft Affidavit.

Creditors may ask you to fill out fraud affidavits. The Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Affidavit is accepted by the credit bureaus and by most major creditors. Send copies of the completed form:

1. To the credit bureaus
2. To the police.
3. To Creditors, where the thief made charges on your account
4. To Creditors, where the thief opened accounts in your name

The form is available on the FTC Web site at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf.

12.  File A Complaint With The FTC (Federal Trade Commission)

The FTC keeps a database of identity theft cases that is used by many law enforcement agencies.

If you have been a victim of Identity Theft, The FTC encourages you to file a complaint with them.
See the topic on Filing an FTC Complaint Form for detailed information on how to do this.

Additional Resources

For More Victims Help

See the Topic Additional Help For Victims which has more information about:

1. Stolen Bank Account Information
2. Lost or Stolen ATM Information
3. Lost or Stolen Checks
4. Lost or Stolen Drivers License
5. Lost or Stolen ID cards
6. Stolen Mail
7. Address Changes made by the Identity Thief
8. Stolen Social Security Number
9. Debt Collectors

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