Three Immediate Actions To Take: Victims Of Identity Theft

protection against identity theft - 
You have always prided yourself on meeting your financial obligations. Those obligations consisted of making credit card payments prior to their due date, having only a few credit cards, taking advantage of low interest rates because of your responsible actions, etc.

However, some recent actions have caught your attention and you are beginning to wonder if you have become a victim of identity theft. Those recent actions that have caused you to think this way have been phone calls from debt collectors, a credit card mailed to you that you did not request and being turned down for a revolving charge card because of delinquent payments.

All of these adverse situations may be an indicator that you have become the latest victim of identity theft. If in fact you think this may have occurred there are immediate actions you need to take. Those actions include notifying various fraud departments, monitoring your credit report and reporting your situation to law enforcement.

Reporting To Fraud Departments

The first action that victims of identity theft should take is to report the actuality or possibility of identity theft to the fraud department of the three credit bureaus. Those three credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Actually, when an individual reports identity theft to one of the credit bureaus, they in turn will notify the other two.

The action that the credit bureaus will take upon notification of identity theft will be the flagging of the account of the individual. This flagging process means that potential creditors will be required to personally call the individual who is making application for credit.

In addition, there are certain procedures that a victim of identity theft can expect when they report identity theft. Those additional procedures include the personal account being flagged for 90 days. Following this flagging process, the victim will be notified that this has been accomplished along with a listing of additional rights afforded to the victims of identity theft.

Once this notification has been received, the individual can request a free copy of their credit report. In addition, it is strongly suggested that a formal request be made to the three bureaus. That request should ask that their flagged account be extended from 90 days to 7 years.

After receiving the credit reports it is very important that the victim examines the reports closely to determine if any fraudulent activity has occurred. If it is determined that such actions exist, the victims of identity theft should writing the credit bureaus informing them of that activity. Once that activity has been reported, the credit bureaus are obligated under the law to suppress the reflection of this fraudulent activity to others who are authorized to look at the personal credit report.

Two Additional Steps

In addition, to reporting identity theft to the credit bureaus, it is important to take two additional critical steps. The first step is to notify law enforcement officials. They in turn will file an official report. It is important that victims of identity theft review the police report and make sure that the report lists the fraudulent accounts.

Finally, it is important that victims of identity theft continue to take responsibility for their own continual protection. This means that the personal credit report should be checked within a few months following the initial fraudulent report filed. After that the credit report should be checked as frequently as you wish and at least once a year. Also, available are monthly alerts that reflect any activity associated with the three credit bureaus.