Identity theft occurs when an unauthorized person uses your name, date of birth, social security number, or other forms of identity to obtain credit in your name without your consent.
Who you should contact if you suspect you are a victim of identity theft:
- Alert your bank or other financial institution; they will start an investigation
- Alert the creditor reporting agencies
- Federal Trade Commission (877-438-4338)
- Equifax (800-525-6285)
- Experian (888-397-3742)
- Trans Union (800-680-7289)
- Social Security Administration (800-269-0271)
- Have your accounts flagged so that you are notified prior to any transactions
Who you should contact if you have unauthorized accounts in your name or your checks were stolen:
If bank accounts were established in your name by someone else or your checks were stolen, contact the following check verification companies:
- CheckRite (800-766-2748)
- ChexSystems (800-428-9623)
- CrossCheck (800-552-1900)
- NPC (800-526-5380)
- SCAN (800-262-7771)
- TeleCheck (800-710-9898)
Obtain the following documentation prior to contacting your local police department:
- Request copies of account statements and the front and back of checks involved
- Request a copy of your credit report through the following agencies
- Equifax (800-685-1111)
- Experian (888-397-3742)
- Trans Union (800-680-7289)
- If any account is not accurate, have it removed from your credit report
- Contact financial institutions that have established fraudulent accounts
- Determine if the fraud occurred in person, by mail, or over the internet
