by Christine Zibas

Created on: May 08, 2009   Last Updated: June 15, 2009

Having your identity stolen can turn your life upside down. Acting quickly once the theft has happened is key. By following four easy steps, you can regain control and put yourself on the path toward restoring your good name (and credit).

It's also critical to begin keeping records of all conversations about the theft and to maintain copies of all related documents. A good paper trail is an essential tool for tracking progress toward a clean record of your identity.

Step 1: Contact any of the three main consumer reporting agencies, and place a fraud alert on your credit report.

Fraud alerts are an important tool for victims of identity theft, allowing you to block thieves from opening any new accounts in the your name. Therefore, it's critical that your first step is to call Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and place a fraud alert on your credit report as soon as possible. No matter which of the three companies you call, your call requires that reporting agency to contact the other 2, which will place an alert on their versions of your credit report as well.

Contact information for each company is listed below:

Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian
1-888-EXPERIAN or 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com
PO Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, PO Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834

Once you have placed a fraud alert on your credit record file, it's important to examine your credit report for unauthorized activity, particularly in the first year following identity theft. You are entitled to free copies of your credit report, and should continue to monitor things closely. To protect yourself further, you can also request that only the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number appear on these reports.

Once you receive a copy of your credit report, review it carefully for any unexplained inquiries from companies you haven't contacted or accounts you haven't opened. Also review debits to existing accounts to ensure there aren't any charges that you didn't make yourself. Review your name (including initials), address, Social Security Number, and other personal information to make sure nothing has been altered without your consent.

If you find any inaccurate or fraudulent information on your credit report, contact one of the three reporting agencies immediately to get it removed or corrected. Continue to monitor your credit report to ensure corrections have been made.


Step 2: Close

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