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FRAUD
PREVENTION
ADVICE
IF YOUR KEYS WERE TAKEN:
Change or re-key
whichever locks need to be changed for your protection.
IF YOUR CHECKS OR CREDIT CARDS WERE TAKEN:
Notify your bank or
credit card company if you have not already done so, and have them
change the account number (1-800-325-3678 for a METRO VISA account). Then
call the three credit reporting bureaus to report the loss, and ask them
to put a FRAUD ALERT on your account so NO NEW CREDIT will be issued
without contacting you. This is especially important if any form of
identification was also stolen at the same time.
Experian
1-888-397-3742
Trans
Union 1-800-680-7289
Equifax
1-800-525-6285
IF YOUR STOLEN CHECKS OR CARDS HAVE BEEN USED:
The subsequent use of any
of the stolen checks or credit cards must be reported to the police by
the merchant or bank where it was presented for payment. Contact the
banks and/or businesses that accepted your checks or cards to notify
them of the fraudulent use. Encourage the banks and businesses to pursue
charges against any suspects identified. Your bank or credit card
company should have you sign an affidavit of check forgery or credit
card fraud, and they should reverse all of the checks/charges relating
to the fraudulent transactions.
IF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD WAS TAKEN:
Call the Social Security
Administration FRAUD HOTLINE to notify them of the loss and get
information on how to get a duplicate card. Also, notify the credit
reporting bureaus listed above. Request a copy of a credit report a
month or two after the theft to make sure no fraudulent accounts are
being opened.
S.S.A.
Fraud Hotline 1-800-269-0271
IF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE WAS TAKEN:
Apply for a new Driver's License as soon as possible and ask
them if anyone has applied for a license since yours was stolen. They
can refer you to an investigator. Also, notify the credit reporting
bureaus and request a credit report after one month.
IF NEW CHECKS OR CARDS HAVE BEEN MAILED TO A DIFFERENT ADDRESS:
Call the U.S. Postal
Inspectors about mail being falsely forwarded, and notify the credit
reporting bureaus.
U.S.P.S.
Inspection Service 1-800-372-8347 or your Local Postal Inspector
IF SOMEONE HAS STOLEN YOUR IDENTITY TO GET NEW CREDIT:
Call the local police department and make an Identity Theft (IDFRD) report. In
Illinois,
Identity Theft becomes a crime only when any victim (person or business)
suffers a monetary loss. Also, call the Federal Trade Commission
Identity Theft Hotline to notify them and get advice on how to proceed.
Notify all three credit reporting bureaus to put a Fraud Alert on your
data and immediately request a credit report. You must then advise the
credit bureau and the institution making the entry of any specific
fraudulent accounts appearing on that report. That institution should
send you an affidavit of account/transaction fraud to sign and return to
them.
FTC
ID Theft Hotline 1-877-438-4338
To report fraud to the
FTC other than ID Theft, call: 1-877-382-4357
OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES FOR ADVICE AND INFORMATION:
Federal
Bureau of Investigation
Privacy
Rights Clearinghouse
PRC
- Identity Theft Resources
Internet
Fraud Complaint Center
NWCCC
Website
W3C
Web Security
SCAMWATCH
OTHER PHONE RESOURCES FOR ADVICE AND INFORMATION
Federal Government
Information Center (for agency phone numbers) 1-800-688-9889
What you can do to
protect yourself and your family from being victimized again.
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Don't put your
drivers license or social security number on your checks. This makes it
easy to get a false ID made.
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Don't carry your
social security card
or
birth certificate copy in your wallet or purse.
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Keep all credit
card receipts safe.
Many
criminals use numbers off receipts to defraud.
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Safeguard your
PIN for all
cards/accounts. Do not write them on or keep them with the cards.
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Shred credit
card offers you get in
the mail. Thieves steal mail and trash to get these.
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NEVER
give your credit or debit card numbers to someone calling you. Make charges only when
you call, and remember, Card Fraud Investigators will never call and ask
for your card number.
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