Posted on Monday, 20th September 2010 by Nathan Thorpe
These days the internet provides a world of access to both entertainment and information. Instead of making a long trip to the mall or shopping outlet, you can browse the inventories of millions of different businesses right from the comfort of your own home. Many people now bank, invest, communicate and conduct business solely through the use of online features. While these new internet technologies are incredibly convenient, they can be dangerous when it comes time to think about how your personal information is being transmitted to all of these different outlets. Identity thieves are out there and can wreak havoc on your life, in the event of identity theft what to do is very important.
There are many resources available for knowing what to do in the event that identity theft occurs to you. First of all, you need to be able to spot the signs of identity theft in progress. Make sure that you are taking a regular look at your your bank accounts and credit card accounts. Review your statements once a month, even if you only get them online. Look for purchases or charges that are made outside the state where you reside, or that are from restaurants and businesses that you don’t normally patronize.
If you are convinced that you are the victim of identity theft what to do starts with notifying the right people. The first thing that you should do is to notify the fraud and security department at all of your financial institutions. Let your bank and credit card companies know about the suspicious transactions, and ask them to freeze your accounts. Even though you may be able to start the process over the phone, be sure to take the proper steps toward filing a formal, written report with the institution so that you have a record for making your case later.
The next identity theft what to do is to notify the local police and file a criminal report. Not every police department might have a specific report for identity theft, but you can always fill out a miscellaneous report. Be sure to bring documentation and dollar amounts with you when you do this. If you are travelling when the identity theft occurs, it is important that you report the occurrence to the local police force, as they will be responsible for the investigation. There are also some federal agencies that you can get involved if you don’t think the local investigation will be enough.
The next identity theft what to do is to contact one of the top three credit reporting companies and put a fraud alert on your credit report. This step may be the most important thing to do in case of identity theft because it will provide you with protection from an identity thief from opening an account using your personal information. You only have to contact one of the credit reporting companies and they will spread the news to the other agencies.
You next identity theft what to do is to get your credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies and check it thoroughly. Make sure that there haven’t been any accounts opened in your name that you aren’t aware of and check to see if anyone has checked your credit report that you didn’t authorize to do so. This could be an early warning that the identity thief is trying to open an account using your personal information.
Next on your list of identity theft what to do is to contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a report with them. Finally, on your identity theft what to do is to keep a record of all your correspondence as it relates to your identity being stolen. Make a note of who you called, when you called them, what was said, and keep copies of everything because you may need it later.
Amy Howard is a home security system specialist with more than 17 years in the industry. She shares her knowledge of Identity Theft protection at Identity Theft Reporting. To find out more about home security solutions and how to protect your identity or to get you hands on a free copy of “The Truth About Free Burglar Alarm Installations” you can ask for your copy at http://www.EasyDIYHomeSecurity.com.
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Posted in Thieft Protection | 1 Comment »
September 14th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
I appreciate this article, it seems quite useful when a fraud happens. But as a doctor would say it is better to prevent the illness rather than cure it. So anyway this is important information that every credit card user must to know, thanks.