What to Do if You are a Victim of
Identity Theft

printer-friendly version

Follow these 4 steps if you think you've been the victim of identity theft.
Click on each link for more detail:

1. Contact the Fraud Departments of the Major Credit Bureaus

2. Close Your Affected Accounts

3. File a Police Report

4. File a Complaint with the FTC

1.Contact the fraud departments of one of the three major credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your file.  The three major credit bureaus are listed below.  You need to place a call and send a letter (A sample letter has been provided ( click here).  You only need to contact one bureau because once the order is placed that bureau will contact the other two bureaus to notify them of the fraud alert. 

Credit Bureaus - Fraud Departments

Equifax.com	Experian.com	Trans Union.com
Consumer Fraud Division 1-800-525-6285 P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241	Experian's National Consumer Assistance 1-888-397-3742 P.O. Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013	Fraud Victim Assistance Department 1-800-680-7289 P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634-6790

Once this step is done, you may order a free copy of your credit report from any of the three major creditor bureaus.  Keep in mind that you only get three credit reports free per year, one from each credit bureau (click here for more info from the Michigan Attorney General ).  It is probably a good idea to stagger the three reports throughout the resolving of the issue to keep track of your progress.

2. Close the accounts at each company where you know or believe that the account has been tampered with or opened fraudulently.  Follow up in writing and include copies of supporting documents.  It is important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing.  Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when.  If this involves disputing a newly opened unauthorized account, fill out the ID Theft Affidavit found by clicking here.

3. File a police report and retain a copy to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of a crime. Click here for the michigan.gov Directory of Michigan Law Enforcement Agencies

4. File your complaint with the FTC.  The FTC maintains an online complaint form which can be found by clicking here.

Finally, once you feel that the issue has been resolved you will need to remove the fraud alert.  The only way to accomplish this is by writing.  A sample fraud alert removal letter has been provided.
( click here for letter / click here for instructions to complete letter)