Identity theft growing rapidly

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  • 56th Fighter Wing Legal
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Identity theft crimes are growing rapidly. Chances are that you or someone you know will become a victim of identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that more than 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. There is, however, a way to get your identity back.

There are many steps you must take immediately if you believe your identity has been stolen. The process will take some time and diligence on your part but is necessary to eliminate the threats, protect against reoccurrence, and gain back your identity. To put it simply, you need to file a police report, check your credit reports, notify creditors and credit reporting agencies, and dispute unauthorized transactions. At first glance this may seem like a lot; however, following the steps below will ensure that you are on the right path to recovering your identity.

The first thing that you must do is file an FTC identity theft complaint. This can be done easily at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov and only takes a few minutes. Next, fill out an identity theft memorandum, located at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/downloads/memorandum.pdf. Print out both of these documents and bring them to your nearest police department. Tell the police that you would like to file a report about your identity theft. Make sure you receive a copy of the identity theft police report.

Second, contact any of the credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Once you contact one of the credit reporting agencies the other agencies will be contacted on your behalf. This will prevent the thief from opening any more accounts in your name. The following numbers are provided for placing a fraud alert on your credit report: 

   TransUnion: (800) 680-7289; P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790 
   Equifax: (800) 525-6285; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 
   Experian: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742); P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

Third, you will need to begin to close all credit accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. If you believe there are errors on your credit report due to identity theft you must follow the procedures set forth in 15 U.S.C. §1681, but don't worry, the hard part is over now that you have your FTC complaint and police report. Bring those items into the legal office and an attorney will assist you in disputing errors on your credit report.

Lastly, contact the Social Security Administration for a replacement card if the original is lost or stolen. Under certain circumstances a new Social Security Number may be obtained. The number for the Social Security Administration is (800) 772-1213.

At this point you should be well on your way to securing and protecting your identity. For more information on identity theft, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov. 

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