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How to report Identity Theft
How to report Identity Theft7 H: L/ ^6 B: o( {' z
If you think that you have been a victim, do you know how to report identity theft? There are a number of steps you should take immediately to minimize damage, help prevent further fraud or theft and clean your good name. Keep in mind that it will take hundreds of dollars and many hours to fix the mess.4 P7 p8 s$ n- O3 R* b: j; h! K
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Step One: \- u( ~& C% [8 E c$ W
Contact each financial institution, credit card issuer or other company that provided the identity thief with unauthorized credit, money, goods or services. This is onw of the most important steps on how to report identity theft!
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Write to the creditor at the address given for "billing inquiries," NOT the address for sending your payments. Include your name, address, account number, and a description of the billing error, including the amount and date of the error. See Sample Letter.% y+ u: l+ K& \# \$ x
* j, y7 Z1 b& k; ?# g5 oSend your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you. If an identity thief changed the address on your account and you didn't receive the bill, your dispute letter still must reach the creditor within 60 days of when the creditor would have mailed the bill. This is one reason it's essential to keep track of your billing statements, and follow up quickly if your bills don't arrive on time., X Y/ o- `( J$ w6 ?7 T0 k) u
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Send your letter by certified mail, and request a return receipt. It becomes your proof of the date the creditor received the letter. Include copies (NOT originals) of your police report or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter. , F7 B r7 ~ ^ J' a
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1 v5 c* F: N j0 mStep Two. \7 j4 _, n4 ~
An important step on how to report identity theft is to contact the credit reporting agencies. Request to place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit file to stop the thieve to open more accounts in your name. Be aware that you need to renew this alert on a regular basis as it expires. The time varies from 3 to 12 months with the 3 credit bureaus.
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. X$ I; N0 p3 N$ P: E$ r/ `! `9 gCredit Bureaus Equifax Experian: Trans Union - R2 X6 ]: _6 Y- @
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5 i1 Y; ]7 d* mCanada Consumer Relations Department
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; D0 E9 v* x% o w" h$ OBox 190 / S: R4 }. g$ `: v) `/ m
Jean Talon Station9 _4 _9 N( V5 I; Y4 _
Montreal, QC 9 U t, |0 }- k/ A# F
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Click here to go to the Web site
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Suite 805 P.O. 1 P6 L# {5 v+ Y
Box 68: [0 u' z, |- U- N7 a& X
Toronto, ON
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Fraud Victim 4 _) N0 d( z { t; |
Assistance Deparment
+ Z. s; V. h6 Y2 p4 GP.O. Box 338, LCD 1& Z5 k$ `/ o# u5 i) v0 j) c
Hamilton, ON
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0 T, M, |7 z( h! zClick here to go to the Web site7 x. u4 \# z, U; P9 _/ Q8 ~8 p
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3 m1 [$ B6 w+ m) ithe US 1-800-685-1111
+ o3 E4 E) a* [% [2 z* `P.O. Box 740241,
6 X/ L1 u1 _& |' Q" k* u2 j$ ~Atlanta, GA 30374-02413 |. c" Y) d" h1 _; `
Click here to go to the Web site \9 ]! }/ S/ V5 ^ i N, j7 U
1-888-397-3742
! G$ ^' f- H7 \: s! m; uP.O. Box 2002,
% F. N: K! V" _ l, C2 sAllen TX 750132 a) f8 f( P' b9 L9 R$ U
Click here to go to the Web site
. ~, l7 q) K+ |4 {' j8 { 1-800-888-4213
8 r+ K5 |6 `( M) K) c( z6 tP.O. Box 1000,
- j c% h* M" @- k8 W# u4 ^Chester, PA 19022, o/ y' v% y7 W/ N* |& U1 P
Click to go to the
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) T4 p! Y, R% N+ A, s* ]7 ZStep Three
! ]0 P6 u6 z5 V/ N9 v* Q, LFile a report with your local police department. Include it in all correspondence with financial institutions, credit issuers, credit reporting agencies and other companies. You should also bring your supporting documentation. Your supporting documentation should include as much of the following information as you are able to provide:
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+ x1 a e3 J0 L$ r( t; {A government-issued identification document, preferably with a photo; 1 n0 X; `8 N! I* h! s( Y
Proof of residency that shows your name and address such as a copy of your phone or utilities billing statement, your rental agreement.
- E3 r% `" t" I' W3 i5 tCopies of your credit reports that show inaccuracies caused by identity theft; ) }+ S8 @: z/ v
Copies of any credit cards, bills, monthly statements, or collection letters you have received relating to the identity theft; and 9 ^/ ~7 m8 r/ X% K$ z$ V
Anything else that shows what happened or provides information about the thief.
; }4 w- H, ]) ]Report fraudulent activities in Canada:$ k" z, D, u5 f# @$ p, d
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Reporting Economic Crime Online: www.recol.ca 1 R2 o3 C2 M2 s7 n
Phonebusters: 1-888-495-8501, www.phonebusters.com Phonebusters is a national anti-fraud call centre operated by law-enforcement agencies, including the RCMP. PhoneBusters provides advice on how to report identity theft and assistance to victims. 6 W2 f, O+ w0 C/ K4 ~- x
Report fraudulent activities in the USA:( d" [% x2 I- x1 P2 h) k
0 F+ w# ^; B' ]: ^2 R9 I9 DFile a complain with the Federal Trade Commission. Visit the ID Theft microsite with detailed information on how to report identity theft
* w2 m9 ~7 T8 \2 I5 y, @; B2 _, lDownload the Federal Trade commission affidavit. Included detail instructions. ID Theft Affidavit
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/ u |: J. W; I$ f. P5 fStep Four
/ e% v* z, N4 k* g, S: P0 f+ c5 fIf your credit cards or government-issued documents (such as driver's licence, birth certificate or passport) have been lost or stolen, notify the issuing authority immediately to have the document cancelled and a new one issued. |
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