IMPORTANT CONSUMER ALERT!

What to do if you think your "Identity" has been stolen!

The following information will help you if your "identity" has been stolen or if you have lost a charge card, your wallet or a receipt with your credit information on it.

Contact all the companies you have accounts with. The key here is knowing the telephone numbers in advance – before you lose your card or other information. Keep the toll-free numbers of Visa, Master Card, etc. handy. If you are traveling out of the country, find out before you go what the international numbers are to report a lost credit card.
If you find that someone has used your identity to make unauthorized charges, immediately contact the three major credit reporting agencies by phone and letter to put a “Fraud Alert” on your credit profile.

Credit Reporting Agencies:
     Equifax (800) 525-6285
     Experian (888) 397-3742
     Trans Union (800) 680-7289

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Contact the Social Security Administration if you think your number has been compromised. The Social Security Administration fraud line is 800-269-0271.
Other Agencies you should contact:
Federal Trade Commission (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338) www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
Identity Theft Resource Center (858) 693-7935 (Toll Call)

     

Insist that the police take a report because you may need a statement from the police to help restore your credit. This is the most effective way to establish that you are the victim and not the thief. If your identity is stolen beyond just the use of your credit card, it is not advisable to change your Social Security number or cancel other “secure” credit cards. You probably have had that Social Security number for years; changing it will complicate other aspects of your credit and government relationships.

Helpful Tips on Preventing ID Theft from your Personal Computer

 
  1. Use passwords that are a mixture of letters and numbers.
  2. Use an Internet Security Solution that combines anti-virus, fire wall, intrusion detection and software vulnerability management.
  3. If you're going wireless , encrypt your router and give it a new name with as many letters and numbers as possible.
  4. Configure your e-mail server to block or remove e-mail that contains file attachments commonly used to spread viruses such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
  5. Never view, open or execute any e-mail attachment unless you know the purpose of the attachment.
  6. Always use and update security patches (guards) such as Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2).
  7. Never transmit your social security number and don't record it in computer files or documents.
  8. Never conduct financial business at public wireless outlets.
  9. Never click on any executable file, such as those ending in .exe.

(westchestergov.com/consumer)