Contents
Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338.
at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or go to: www.identitytheft.gov/ To order a copy of your Social Security Administration earnings and benefits statement, or to check whether someone has used your Social Security number to get a job or to avoid paying taxes, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/.
To check to see if someone is using your SSN, consider checking your credit report. You can do this online through AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports. You can also use the Annual Credit Report phone number (1-877-322-8228) to request your credit report.
Call 1-877-322-8228.
To lock your Social Security number, visit the U.S. government’s myE-Verify website and complete the necessary steps online. “You’ll need to enter your personal data, take a quiz, enter document data, and then get your results,” says Katie Gampietro Burke, CFP and founder of Wealth by Empowerment.
The four types of identity theft include medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft.
File a claim with your identity theft insurance, if applicable. Notify companies of your stolen identity. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission. Contact your local police department.
Scammers can use different ways and means to steal your identity by using the last 4 digits of SSN and DOB. With this information in their hands, they can steal your money, create credit card accounts, take away your hard-earned benefits, and use your name for illegal transactions.
The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you’ll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus—Experian, Equifax and TransUnion—to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.
It’s a one-stop resource managed by the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency. You can also call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY 1-866-653-4261. or call 1-800-908-4490. Also, you should file an online complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
It’s safe to say that identity thieves are far more likely to get away with their crimes. … Another alarming number is 85, as in 85% of identity theft victims don’t realize for up to a year if not longer.
The Social Security Administration does allow you to change your number, but only under limited circumstances, such as identity theft or if your safety is in danger. You will also need to supply appropriate documentation to support your application for a new number.
Social Security Number (SSN) Tracker: CreditWise now tracks the names and addresses associated with credit applications linked to a users’ social security number, as reported by Experian, and alerts users when their SSN is used to apply for credit.
Once someone has your Social Security number, they can essentially become you. They may be able to collect tax refunds, collect benefits and income, commit crimes, make purchases, set up phone numbers and websites, establish residences, and use health insurance—all in your name.
If someone used your name to open new accounts, get credit or buy services. This is called ‘identity theft‘. If you start getting bank letters, bills or letters from debt collectors that you know nothing about, this might have happened to you. You should contact your bank straight away and let them know.
If you’ve been a victim of Identity theft, contact police on 131 444 for further advice and assistance. You should also contact your financial institution.
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
If you provided a scammer with your Social Security Number directly, or you already think your number was used fraudulently, you will need to act more urgently. You can place a credit freeze on your account with the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Transunion and Experian.
Report the theft of the Social Security number to the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central. You can also call 1-800-908-4490. That will prevent tax-fraud thieves from filing tax returns in your name — and collecting your tax refund.
To clear arrest records due to identity theft, you must petition the court for a Judicial Finding of Factual Innocence and inquire about a petition to expunge your criminal record.
Related Searches
how to protect yourself from identity theft
free identity theft check
what to do if your identity is stolen
credit bureau identity theft
how to report identity theft
identity theft victim assistance
identitytheft.gov login
ftc identity theft report