We recommend the Federal Trade Commission's site for the most up-to-date information on preventing identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do:
1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening any new accounts.
2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
3. File your complaint with the FTC. You may print a copy of your complaint to provide important standardized information for your police report.
4. File a report with your local police or police in the community where the identity theft took place. Give the police a copy of your FTC ID Theft complaint form.
Beware of Phishing Scams!
For more information, and to download a two-page brochure You Have The Power To Stop Identity Theft (PDF format) that goes into more detail on Identity Theft and how to prevent it. Just click on the title to begin the download.
Click here if you need Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - it is a free, useful program.
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