Identity Theft

Unfortunately once your identity has been stolen you may have to do a great deal of work to make sure that you are not harmed financially. We suggest you do five things immediately:

1. Make a police report at your local precinct and be sure to get a copy of the report. Read More

2. Place a fraud alert on your credit repots by notifying the three credit reporting bureaus:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289, www.transunion.com

3. After notifying the bureaus ask for a free copy of the report.

4. When you receive the reports check to see if there are charges that shouldn't be there. If there are fraudulent charges you can dispute them. There is information about how to do this on the Federal Trade Commission's website .

4. Close accounts that the thief has used.

5. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission which has additional information about Identity Theft on its website .