What To Do If You Become A Victim Of Identity
Theft
Knowing what to do in case of identity
theft is something you need to be aware of before it happens.
If you consider that you have become a victim of Identity
Theft, you must act quickly to limit the damage.
Ascertain, as much as you can, where the fraud
has taken place. You may have spotted a rogue transaction on a
credit card statement, but are there discrepancies elsewhere in
your financial accounts? You would do well to access your
Credit Report, to determine whether there are any accounts
in your name, that you are unaware of.
- Report the matter to the police and ask for a reference
number of their report. If you have lost or had
stolen, any documents, credit or store cards or
chequebooks, report them, and cancel all your
credit accounts immediately. The banks and credit card
issuing companies will provide you with
replacement accounts.
- Contact the fraud sections of one of the three
main credit reference agencies (they will inform the
others) and report that you believe you are a
victim of identity theft. Request that an
'Alert' be placed on your Credit File. Any financial
institution checking your credit file thereafter,
will then see this alert and you will be forewarned of
any further attempt to obtain credit in your name. This
Alert will normally last for 90 days but can be extended
for up to several years when you make a formal request in
writing.
-
Telephone all your financial service providers
- banks, credit and store card companies, insurers,
investment houses and so on - and advise them of your
position. Ask them to flag your account so that any
future requests for action be automatically referred
back to you and not acted on straightaway. Request new
account numbers and passwords.
- Contact your utility companies - gas, electricity,
water, telephone, mobile phone, cable company - and advise
then as above. Also, contact your local Benefits Agency to
ensure that State Benefits are not being claimed in your
name, without your knowledge.
- Confirm every telephone and in-person conversation you
have related to your identity theft, by letter as soon as
possible, and send by Recorded Delivery. Keep
photocopies of any original handwritten letters or keep
copies on your computer, and print off a hard copy.
You may already
be a victim!
How to recover
from ID Theft
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