Prevention Steps
One of the fastest growing crimes in the United States is identity theft. Identity theft happens when someone uses your name or personal information to commit financial fraud. By following these simple steps, you can help safeguard your personal information and protect yourself and your credit rating.
Protecting Your Identity
> Keep your personal information in a safe place. Don’t carry your birth certificate, social security card or
passport with you unless you need to use it. Always make copies and keep them in a safe place. If you lose such documents,
contact the appropriate government office immediately.
> Review your financial statements regularly. Check your credit card and bank statements each month for any suspicious
activity. Request and check your credit report at least once a year for mistakes or fraudulent use. If you come across
any suspicious activity on your accounts, contact your financial institution immediately.
For example, if you notice suspicious activity on your Discover Card Account,
call 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683) immediately.
> Dispose of confidential information securely. Shred important documents to prevent con artists from collecting private
information from your trash. Be safe, shred anything that contains your name, address, personal and account information, etc.
Reporting Fraud
> Act quickly. If you suspect your identity or financial information is being used fraudulently, call your bank and
credit card companies immediately. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened
fraudulently. The sooner you act, the better the chances of catching the culprit and of limiting the damage.
Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new
unauthorized accounts.
> File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime. The best way for the authorities to bring criminals to justice and prevent future fraud is through sharing information. Your police report helps authorities gain insight on how the crime was committed.
> File your complaint with FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement
agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps FTC learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are
having so that better assistance can become available.
File your complaint
> Prevent future fraud.
For more in-depth information on recovering from identity theft and help with specific problems, read
More Info on FTC Website or you can call the
> The minute you learn your identity is being used fraudulently, place a fraud alert on your name and social security
number. This helps prevent future fraud and further tarnishing of your personal and financial records. The fraud alert
requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. Call
the three national credit-reporting organizations and the Social Security Administration immediately to place a fraud
alert on your name and Social Security number. The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (Fraud Line): 1-800-269-0271
Local Representative from the State Attorney General Office: 631-4020
ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name
Local Community Outreach Coordinator, Lou Ann Ivory,
Representative from the State Attorney General Office: 631-4020 or
EMail .... livory@oag.state.va.us