Identity theft is a huge problem in our society today. This is a problem that is growing every year and it can have the effect of nearly destroying peoples lives. If a person is affected by this problem they need to know how to report identity theft. Also, a person should remember that this is a problem that will never be solved unless they report identity theft " keeping silent will only hurt yourself and future victims of this crime.
Steps to Take to Report ID Theft
There are several steps a person should take to report identity theft and protect themselves from financial harm as best as they are able to.
First, talk to your local police. If they can't help you, they can let you know who can. They may also be able to assist you in contacting people on this list or even people not included here.
Inform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can call their toll free number 877-IDTHEFT or access them through their web site. Make this one of your first calls as they can guide you through the rest of the process.
Let your bank and credit card companies know. Close all your accounts and credit cards but remember to let the financial companies know what's happening. They will appreciate knowing as soon as possible and will be more willing to help protect you.
Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you let them know that your social security number has been jeopardized, they can see if you are eligible for a new number and make sure that reported earnings are correct.
If the theft has any potential ties to terrorism or buying or selling social security numbers, make sure you contact the Office of the Inspector General.
The credit reporting agencies should also be on your list of companies to contact. By letting them know to look for further activity on your reports and that you are a victim of this crime you can improve your chances of recovering from this ordeal with your credit intact.
You can make your position more complicated if you don't let the right people know. The sooner you can report identity theft, the sooner the authorities have of trying to catch the person or people responsible. This could help future victims.
Police don't want to ignore crime. But identity theft isn't like the physical crimes most law enforcement officers are used to dealing with. Most evidence of ID Theft activity happens in the realm of electronic databases and paper transactions.
ID Theft investigations typically take a good bit of time and man-hours. Local police can't possibly investigate most crimes that stem from identity theft -- there just isn't enough money or resources.
If your local police resist the idea of filling out an official police report then politely insist. One reason the police may resist filling out a report is because they think you expect them to exert a lot of time and effort investigating the crime. That, of course, is unlikely to happen.
Explain to the police that having a report for "informational purposes" is vital to clearing your credit profile ... and legally protecting yourself from any crimes committed in your name by the identity thief. Also tell them that credit reporting agencies and credit grantors expect to see a police report in order to clear a profile affected by identity fraud. Prospective employers and future credit issuers also need to understand that you're the victim of a genuine, serious crime.
If the police official tells you a credit grantor must report the crime before police can file a report then politely inform them this isn't the case. Have a copy of Federal Law Code 18 USC 1028a to show them -- this is the "Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act".A law that makes identity theft a "federal" offense against consumers." Identity theft is a felony under applicable state laws too.
Tell them you need a police report for credit grantors to truly know you're a victim of a serious crime, which is recognized by both Federal and State agencies. You can also explain that many creditor grantors don't bother reporting identity theft because it happens so often they write it off as a cost of doing business.
If you're a victim of identity fraud then credit issuers are going to expect you to prove that accounts you dispute weren't really yours to begin with. These are the basic reasons why a police report is needed. If you're persistent then you should be able to find a police official who sympathizes with your dilemma.
Both Paul Wilcox & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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