Three Immediate Steps to Repair Identity Theft as Advised by the FTC

PLACE A FRAUD ALERT
Contact 1 credit reporting company. Equifax, Experian or Transunion

• Report that you are an identity theft victim. The credit agency will notify the other two.
• Ask the company to put a fraud alert on your credit file.
• Confirm that the company you call will contact the other 2 companies.
• The initial fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days.
• Be sure the credit reporting companies have your current contact information so they can get in touch with you.

Mark your calendar – initial fraud alert stays on your report for 90 days. You can renew it after 90 days.

Record the dates you made a call or sent letters, keep copies of any correspondence.*
ORDER YOUR CREDIT REPORTS 
After the initial fraud alert is placed, order your credit reports from each of the three reporting agencies. Request each company to show only the last 4 digits of your SS# on your report. Review for suspicious activity.
CREATE AN IDENTITY THEFT REPORT
An Identity Theft Report will help you deal with credit reporting companies, debt collectors, and businesses that gave the identity thief credit or opened new accounts in your name.

Submit a report about the theft to the FTC.

Print a copy of the report. This report is called an Identity Theft Affidavit. Bring the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit when you file a police report. File a police report in order to report the ID theft and get a copy. Your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, along with your police report, make up an Identity Theft Report.

*Resolving identity theft takes phone calls and letters. Create a system to organize your papers and calls, and to track deadlines.

Equifax – 1-800-525-6285
Experian – 1-800-397-3742
Transunion -1-800-680-7289