Call me at this number to verify all applications.”įind out from the credit bureaus how long they will keep the fraud alerts active and how to extend them if you need to. ”My identification has been used to fraudulently apply for credit. Here are links and phone numbers to contact them:Ĭlark says you should also ask to add what’s called a “victim’s statement” to your account, which should say the following: credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your account. ![]() ![]() If your Social Security number has been stolen, contact the Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at 80. Contact the Social Security Administration Here are details on how to make some of those contacts. Remember to stay calm and try to give full descriptions of erroneous charges to your account(s). In each case, you may be asked to describe the incident to the best of your knowledge. Some companies and agencies have pages on their websites where you can make a report. You’ll typically need to inform the Social Security Administration, the credit bureaus, your local police department, your bank and all your creditors. If your ID does get stolen, you can report it to several different entities. Never give personal information over the phone to someone you don’t know.Never click on suspicious links in your email and text messages.Shred any documents that list personal financial information such as your bank and credit card account numbers. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, and be careful about giving out the number.Also check your credit reports periodically.Check your bank and credit card statements regularly to make sure there are no suspicious charges on them.Here are a few more ways to prevent identity theft: You have to contact each credit bureau and confirm your identity to “thaw” or unfreeze your credit before you open any new accounts. Once your credit is frozen, no one can open a new financial account in your name. And it doesn’t cost anything to get your credit frozen. He says it’s crucial to freeze your credit with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. “A credit freeze is the best way to protect yourself from identity thieves,” Clark says. Money expert Clark Howard says there’s one thing you should do first: There are many things you can do to help protect yourself from identity theft. Crooks attach their own card readers over the real card reader and then take the information off every card that gets swiped.Īnd, of course, your computer or phone can get hacked - especially if you don’t have any security software installed. “Skimming” is another ID theft technique related to your use of keypads (usually at ATMs). There’s also a technique called “shoulder surfing”: A potential thief watches you enter your credit card number or other personal information into a keypad or hears you giving the number to someone over the phone. And some are extremely low-tech, such as going through your garbage or your mailbox.Ĭrooks can also swipe your information from a job application, your email or even from what you post on social media. So how do they get hold of this information? There are several ways. Credit card and/or bank account numbers.Here’s the kind of information ID thieves look for to steal your identity: It is a serious crime that could ruin your financial life. Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information, without your permission, to commit a crime - usually fraud. How To Repair Your Finances After Identity Theft.Whether you’ve personally experienced identity theft or you just want to know how to prevent it from happening to you, this guide has the steps you need to know. ![]() Identity theft is one of those crimes that can devastate your finances – but it doesn’t have to.
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