Page 3 - Identity Theft.pdf
P. 3

need to send to other businesses                            new line of credit yourself. There

           where fraudulent accounts were                              are usually fees to freeze and
           opened -- not because the                                   unfreeze that vary by state, but
           government will start investigating                         generally range between $5 and $10.
           your personal case.
                                                                       If this is too much of a hassle, you
           The form asks you questions about                           can put a free fraud alert on your

           who you are and what accounts were                          credit reports instead. This will
           impacted. It doesn't ask for any other                      require creditors to take additional
           documents or even your Social                               steps to verify your identity before
           Security number, said John Krebs,                           issuing credit.
           an attorney at the Federal Trade
           Commission.                                                 The fraud alert usually lasts for 90
                                                                       days and can be renewed. But after
                                                                       you fill out the identity theft report
                                                                       online, you can request an extended
                                                                       fraud alert that stays on your credit
                                                                       report for seven years.


                                                                 r Request, in writing, to close
                                                                      fraudulent accounts


                                                                      Contact the fraud department (not
                                                                      customer service) at each business
                                                                      where a new account was opened in
                                                                      your name to explain that someone
           The website will also provide you                          stole your identity and request that

           with a recovery plan after you submit                      the account be closed.
           the information. The plan will vary
           depending on what kind of accounts                          The FTC provides a sample letter
           were created or hacked.                                     you can use to dispute these
                                                                       accounts. Include a copy of your
     r Put a freeze or fraud alert on                                  identity theft report. In some cases,

          your credit reports                                          the creditor may also ask for a police
                                                                       report, which you must file with local
          You can request the three credit                             law enforcement first.
          rating agencies to freeze your credit.

          This will prevent anyone from                                "The creditor will have a higher
          opening additional new accounts in                           tendency to believe you if you have
          your name. You'll have to request to                         the police report," Wu said.
          lift the freeze if you want to open a
                                                                          Related:     We fact-checked 6


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