How to Repair Damages of ID Theft
- 1). Call the fraud line for Equifax, Experian or TransUnion and file a fraud alert. By law, each company must contact the other two agencies. After reporting identity theft, you are entitled to a free credit report from all three companies.
- 2). Close any accounts you suspect are being used by the identity thief. Some financial institutions have special offers for identity theft victims to help them painlessly close one account and open another. Call the company and discuss the matter. Follow that by sending your request in writing, along with any supporting information and documentation that pertains to your situation.
- 3). Contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint. This will help the police and other law enforcement agencies catch identity thieves.
- 4). File a police report. If possible, do so in person and take any documentation you have. Unfortunately, some law enforcement agencies don't take identity theft very seriously, so you may need to be persistent.
- 5). Request that the officer include the ID theft complaint you filed with the FTC in your report. Including this, as well as any other available information, will help keep your case organized.
- 6). Guard your identity like a hawk. Never give credit information to any business or individual that you don't completely trust. Keep records of everything you do financially. Shred any private mail or documentation before throwing it away. These steps will help reduce the chances of having your identity stolen again.
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