Credit Cards:
Unauthorized Use of Your Account. (What to Do if Your Identity is Stolen)
When an imposter co-opts your
name, your Social Security number, your credit card number, or some other piece
of your personal information for their use and appropriates your personal
information without your knowledge, it is a crime.
You may not know your
identity has been stolen until you notice that something is wrong. You may get
bills for a credit card account you never opened, your credit report may include
debts you never knew you had, a billing cycle may pass without your receiving a
statement, or you may see charges on your bills that you did not sign for, did
not authorize, and do not know anything about.
If someone has stolen
your identity, you should take immediate actions:
1. Contact the company
or organization that issued the identity materials that have been tampered
with or opened fraudulently - in the case of credit cards, contact the credit
card issuer. Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department,
and make sure you also send a letter in writing.
2. Order a copy of your
credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies (for details, see
What is a Credit Report (and How Do I Get Mine)?) Check their accuracy and
make sure they include only those debts and loans that you have incurred. This
could be very important if you are considering a major purchase, such as a
house or a car.
3. File a police report.
Keep a copy in case your creditors need proof of the crime.
Take control of the situation:
- The
Federal Trade
Commission is the federal clearinghouse for consumer complaints about
identity theft. The information you provide can help the Commission and other
law enforcement agencies track, investigate and prosecute identity thieves.
You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response
Center by phone: 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer
Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW,
Washington, DC 20580; or through the Internet, using the
online
complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems
for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible
law violations.
- You also may want to
contact the Privacy
Rights Clearinghouse (call 619-298-3396), which provides information on
how to network with other identity theft victims.
- If an identity thief
has stolen your mail to obtain access to your new credit cards, bank and
credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers and tax information, or the
thief falsified change-of-address forms, (s)he has committed a crime. Report
it to your local postal inspector.
- If you discover that an
identity thief has changed the billing address on an existing credit card
account, close the account. When you open a new account, ask that a password
be used before any inquiries or changes can be made on the account. Avoid
using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth
date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone
number, or a series of consecutive numbers. Avoid the same information and
numbers when you create a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
- To thwart an identity
thief who may pick through your trash to capture your personal information,
tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, Insurance
forms, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards, and credit offers you
get in the mail.
- If you have reason to
believe that an identity thief has accessed your bank accounts, checking
account or ATM card, close the accounts immediately. When you open new
accounts, insist on password-only access. If your checks have been stolen or
misused, stop payment. If your ATM card has been lost, stolen or otherwise
compromised, cancel the card and get another with a new PIN.
- If an identity thief
established new phone service in your name and is making long-distance calls,
making unauthorized calls that appear to come from - and are billed to - your
cellular phone, or using your calling card and PIN, contact your service
provider immediately to cancel your account and calling card. Get new accounts
and new PINS.
- If it appears that
someone is using your Social Security number when applying for a job, get in
touch with the Social Security
Administration to verify the accuracy of your reported earnings and that
your name is reported correctly. Call (800) 772-1213 to check your Personal
Earnings and Benefit Estimate.
- If you suspect that
your name or Social Security number is being used by an identity thief to get
a driver license, contact your appropriate State driver license office (see
our
License Locator). If your State uses your Social Security number as your
driver's license number, ask to substitute another number.
- The
Social Security Administration
may issue you a new Social Security number if you still have difficulties even
after trying to resolve the problems resulting from identity theft.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that a new Social Security number will
resolve your problems.
- The
US Secret Service
has jurisdiction over financial fraud cases. Although the Service generally
investigates cases where the dollar loss is substantial, your information may
provide evidence of a larger pattern of fraud requiring their involvement.
Contact your local field office.
Related Article:
How to protect
yourself from identity theft
Next ==>>
Help and Resources
Table of Contents:
-
How to establish
credit
-
Types of Credit Card Accounts
-
Precautions for Choosing or
Using a Credit Card
-
When You Receive Your Card
- Your Rights and Protections
-
What is a Credit Report (and How Do I Get Mine)?
-
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
-
Unauthorized Use of Your Account: (What to Do if Your Identity
is Stolen)
-
Help and Resources
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