Reporting Identity Theft

Things you should do if you are a victim of identity theft.

        Click here... ( bottom of page ) for information on

         Identity Theft Resolution Insurance.

1. Contact one of the major credit reporting bureaus to report a fraud:

(a) post a security alert on the credit file;
(b) opt you out of pre-approved offers of credit or insurance; and
(c) mail you a copy of your file. Ask that creditors should get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name. In a few months order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections, changes and any new fraudulent activity.

Here is what the process will look like in more detail once you make the call:

• The company receiving the initial call will notify you of the ID fraud initiative and will electronically notify the other two credit reporting companies of the crime.
• A fraud alert will be put on your credit report at all three nationwide credit reporting companies within 24 hours.
• You will be opted out of all pre-approved offers of credit and insurance for two years.
• Your request for a copy of your credit report will be handled in no more than three business days. Each of the three national credit reporting companies will work with you to verify the information in their respective reports and to delete any fraudulent data. You must file a police report with your local police department, or where the theft took place.
• The Consumer Data Industry Association's national credit reporting company members will voluntarily expedite services for you by immediately deleting fraudulent data without the usual reinvestigation procedure.
• The fraud alert will be displayed by each national credit reporting agency to all lenders or other users that access the reports in the future.

2. Bank accounts, credit or ATM cards & checks:

If you have reason to believe that a thief has accessed your bank account or credit card, close the accounts immediately. Open a new account, and insist on password-only access. Avoid the same information and numbers when you create a new PIN. If an ATM card has been lost, stolen or otherwise compromised, cancel the card and get another with a new PIN. If checks have been stolen or misused, call and issue a stop payment.

3. Police Report:

Report the crime to your local police and sheriff’s departments. Even if the police can’t catch the identity thief, having a police report can help you in clearing up your credit records later on. Get a copy of your police report. You may need to provide a copy of the police report to the creditors.

4. File a complaint with the FTC

(Federal Trade Commission) at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call
their toll-free hotline...
1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

5. ID Theft Affidavit:

If required, fill out an Identity Theft Affidavit (see below). Banks, credit reporting agencies and other credit grantors may require you to complete an ID Affidavit or other forms. Follow the specific instructions on how to complete it.

"Affidavit"
Download the "ID Theft Affidavit" form below, complete and give a copy to your local police department, or to the police department where the theft occurred and to any other creditors that are involved with your theft.

You should also report it to one of the major credit bureau reporting agencies in the U.S. for information on the Credit Bureaus.

Click here to download the "ID Theft Affidavit." To print this Affidavit the printable version requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (available to download at no cost from Adobe) to view and print.

Adobe Acrobat Reader > Download

NOTE: After downloading the Affidavit--in order to return to Tri-County Bank 's" Identity Theft" Page-- click on the Red "x" top right of the Affidavit form.

6. Mail:

Notify your local Postal Inspector of a fraudulent change of address. Notify your local Postal Inspector if you suspect an identity thief has filed a change of your address with the post office or has used the mail to commit credit or bank fraud. (Call your local Postmaster to obtain the phone number). Find out where fraudulent credit cards were sent. Notify the local Postmaster for that address to forward all mail in your name to your own address. To be safe... deposit outgoing mail in local post office collection boxes, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail. Never use mail box red flag! This just tells the thief—here are some checks to pick up! Stop mail when vacationing.

7. Phone:

Contact your phone service provider if a thief has established new phone or wireless service in your name and is making unauthorized calls. Immediately cancel the account and calling card.

8. SS#:

Get in touch with the Social Security Administration if it appears that someone is using your SS#. Verify accuracy of your reported earnings and that your name is reported correctly. If you suspect that your name or SS# is being used by a thief to get a driver’s license, report it to your Department of Motor Vehicles.

Who has the right to ask for your Social Security number? Many may ask for it—few can demand it. Only four entities can demand it.

(1) Government Agencies;
(2) Financial Institutions (for tax purposes);
(3) Employers; and
(4) Insurance Agencies.

You need to decide who you want to do business with. You can say no to any others who ask for it. Ask why they need it and how they will safeguard it.

9. Contacting Creditors:

For any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently—ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department and follow up in writing. Following up with a letter is one of the procedures spelled out in the Fair Credit Billing Act for resolving errors on credit billing statements, including charges that you have not made.

10. Consider Banking Precautions:

Deposits: Direct Deposit for paychecks, social security checks and any other type of direct deposit.

Payments: Checks – next time you order checks put only your initials (instead of first and last name. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know how you sign your checks with just your initials, but the bank will know how you sign your checks. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. Credit Cards – limit the number you carry. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED.” Payment of Credit Card Bill – DO NOT put the complete account number on the “For” line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.