WCSO Shares Tips on Repairing Your Credit After ID Theft

The Target credit card breach was huge, but certainly not the only one.  Credit cards, healthcare records, nearly every facet of our personal lives are now online and it's been estimated that 740 million online records were exposed in 2013--the worst in history.  The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has shared the following information on what to do in the event your identity is stolen and your credit is damaged.

Sometimes Prevention Isn't Enough

For years we've heard the jingles and promotions reminding us to monitor our credit. Warnings have been issued by law enforcement and we've offered tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of Identity Theft. But what should you do when your information is stolen and you find yourself staring at an outrageous bill for something you never authorized?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends you take immediate action if an identity thief targets you. By acting quickly, you can stop them from doing more damage. Follow these three steps as soon as possible:

1. Initial Fraud Alert
Ask one of the three credit reporting companies to put a fraud alert on your credit report. They must tell the other two companies. This alert should make it harder for the thief to open more accounts in your name. The alert lasts 90 days and can be renewed.
Equifax 1-800-525-6285
Experian 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

2. Order Credit Reports
Identity theft victims are entitled to a free credit report from EACH of the three credit reporting companies. They cannot require you to sign up for their credit reporting service to receive your free report. However, be prepared for the sales pitch.

3. Create an Identity Theft Report
An Identity Theft Report gives you some important rights that can help you recover from the theft. To create one, file a complaint with the FTC and print your Identity Theft Affidavit. Use that to file a police report and create your Identity Theft Report.

Resolving identity theft takes phone calls and letters. The FTC urges you to create a system to organize your papers and calls and to track deadlines. For more information on what to do following identity theft please click here to download the FTC's publication "Taking Charge". You can save this 68-page document to your computer and refer to it as needed. You may click here to visit the Michigan Sheriffs' Association website for information on how to contact your local Sheriff's Office to file an identity theft report.

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by News News