I’m a Victim of ID Theft, What Can I Do Right Now?
Has identity theft claimed you as another victim? Try to relax, it happens to millions of Americans every year and most are able to get through it without suffering any long term consequences. In order to stop any problems an identity thief may be causing and minimize damages, start by following these easy steps right away:
- Report your identity theft to all three of the major credit bureaus. You can find their contact information online.
- File a police report of the crime with your local department or with a different department if it occurred in another city.
- Contact your creditors and your bank account. In most cases, you won’t be liable for any charges or withdraws if you report the crime immediately.
- Although cell phone fraud is not as common as other forms of identity theft, inform your cellular phone company as well in case an identity thief has tried to open a new account in your name.
What Should I Do In the Long Term?
After you’ve completed those steps, your identity should be fairly secure for the time being. However, now it is important to start looking after your identity in the long term and doing everything you can to protect it. Here’s how to get started:
- Change all of your screen names, passwords, and PIN numbers. This means for any type of services you use online that requires your log-in information, as well as your ATM or debit cards.
- If you find you have withdraws or charges that are incorrect on your bill, contest them by following the directions from your credit card company in regards to disputing charges.
- Regularly obtain copies of your credit report. It’s free to get your credit report and it will have a list of any opened accounts in your name, so it should be easy to tell if anything shouldn’t be there.
- You should strongly consider enrolling an identity theft protection program. They will help protect your identity from future attacks and provide you with the means to repair your identity if it is ever stolen again.
