What steps should I take if I suspect Identity Theft?
1. Place a fraud alert on your credit. Placing an alert on your credit is free and it stays in effect for ninety days. You can do so by calling one of the major credit reporting agencies at the following numbers.
a. Equifax 800-525-6285 http://www.equifax.com/home/en_us
b. Experian 888-397-3742 http://www.experian.com/
c. TransUnion 800-680-7289 https://www.transunion.com/
2. Monitor your financial accounts for unusual activity.
3. Keep a list of all your credit and bank accounts in a secure place with phone numbers for customer service so you can contact them if you notice suspicious account activity.
4. Order free credit reports periodically and check for any unauthorized activity. You can get a free report once a year.
Reports should be filed at the Police Station and on the following federal sites:
The Federal Trade Commision website https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) https://www.ic3.gov/