What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen
Here's a checklist of the steps you need to take if you suspect your identity has been stolen.
Identity theft is a growing national epidemic, claiming about 500,000 victims per year in the United States. Despite the mounting number of victims, many people remain unaware of how to respond to identity theft. If you believe that you are a victim of identity theft or fear that you may become one -- for example, you lost your wallet or gave personal information to a stranger -- take these steps immediately.
1. Start a log. As you make phone calls or send letters, keep notes of your conversations and correspondence with authorities and financial institutions, including dates, names, and phone numbers. Also keep track of all time spent and expenses you incur; you can deduct theft-related expenses on your income tax return, assuming you itemize deductions, and you may be able to seek compensation if you are ever able to sue the thief.
2. Contact the credit bureaus. Call or visit the websites of the three major credit bureaus and ask that they issue a fraud alert and attach a statement to your credit report.
|
|
