Identity Theft Protection Tips
Some Things to Do Tonight
- Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688) to choose not to receive prescreened credit card offers. You can also go to their secure website at: https://www.optoutprescreen.com. This takes care of all three major credit bureaus with one phone call or inputting. Only takes about 5 minutes.
- Prepare letters to the three credit reporting companies listed below to opt out of using your information for promotional purposes. This is different than the pre-approved credit offers.
Equifax,
Inc. 1-800-685-1111
Options
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Experian
1-888-397-3742
Consumer Opt-Out
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
1-800-916-8800
Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094
A sample letter is attached
Some Things to Do in the Next Week
- Purchase a shredder
- Clean out your wallet/purse. Make a copy of everything in it (credit cards, license, etc.). Keep the copies in a safe, but easily accessible place.
- Continue to monitor and balance you accounts and statements. According to the FTC, over fifty percent of identity-theft victims first detected the fraud by monitoring their own accounts. The sooner you detect the fraud, the better your chances of recovering your money and good name/credit.
- Consider adding an optional endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy.
Some Helpful Web Sites
- Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft site
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
- United States Dept. of Justice; Identity Theft site http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html
- FBI
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Sample Opt-Out Letter (Send to three credit agencies listed )
This sample came from the web site of the Federal Trade Commission. Just copy and paste to your Word Processing Program
Date To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you have asked me to include in my request: FIRST,
MIDDLE & LAST NAME ______________________________ CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS
______________________________________________________________ PREVIOUS
MAILING ADDRESS
______________________________________________________________ SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ______________________________ DATE OF BIRTH ______________________________ Thank you for your prompt handling of my request. ______________________________ |