Wizzard
18 May 2007, 21:17
This thread is an update to Browade's thread titled “IF YOUR IDENTITY HAS OR MAY HAVE BEEN STOLEN†dated March 14, 2007. I am starting another because there are some additions I think should be included.
In the initial thread he recommended filing a police report. This is still true, but there are some additions. You will need to file a police report where you live. If the incident happened somewhere else, you will need to file a second police report. Police Departments have boundaries called jurisdiction. Let's say you live in Los Angeles and the incident happened in Seattle. You will file a report with Los Angeles Police but they will not be able to investigate because of their jurisdictional boundaries. You will need to file another report with Seattle. The main reason you file a report where you live is because of the convenience of getting a copy of the report.
You may run into a problem when trying to file a police report with another department over the phone. I recommend you check the internet because some departments have websites where you file an online police report. If they do not have a website or do not take online reports call them. They may say they will not take the report over the phone because they can not verify who you are. This is not a problem because you have already filed a report where you live. Contact you local police department and request they send a complete case file to the other department. Contact the other department every now and then to make sure they received the report.
After filing the report you need to try to verify your identity has been stolen. I have had cases where a father, we will call him John Doe, received a letter claiming he has not made a payment on his account. He files a police report and the investigation starts. After gathering documentation for the account it was determined the account was under the name of John Doe II, which was the son. There was no identity theft, just a common mistake. Take a few minutes to contact the company and speak to someone in the fraud department. In some cases you will be assisted with your questions. In other cases the fraud department will tell you they can not release any information. I strongly encourage anyone to keep calm while talking to them. If they tell you they can not release any information get the mailing address before you end the call. Type out a letter indicating you are disputing the account. List in the letter all information you can about the account. At the end of the letter inform them pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting act you are requesting copies of any and all applications and business transaction records for the fraudulent account(s). Provide a mailing address and/or a fax number where the documentation can be sent. You should also request the records are made available to your local police department at their request.
I have attached a link below. This link is for the Federal Trade Commission's brochure page. There are several excellent brochures. In my opinion, one of the best is called “TAKE CHARGE: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT.†This booklet can be downloaded to your computer or printed out. In the booklet are dispute and blocking letters as well as the ID Theft Affidavit and a form to request your credit reports. It will provide you with invaluable information and additional contact numbers for the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service and many more. The booklet will also give you tips on how to better protect yourself.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm
You will also need to place a fraud alert on your account. What you need to remember is there are two different types. The first is just a general fraud alert for 90 days. At the end of 90 days the alert is lifted. They also have what is called the extended fraud alert or 7-year fraud alert. In order to get the extended fraud alert you will have to complete some paperwork. If you feel you may be a victim it is recommended to call and get the 90-day fraud alert. This will allow you time to check your credit and determine if you are a victim or not. If you are not a victim the alert is lifted in 90 days. If you find out you are a victim, the 90-day alert will give you time to complete all the documentation to request the extended or 7-year fraud alert. The key point to remember about the extended fraud alert is to keep your contact information up to date.
Sometimes your information is not used for credit, but for employment. In this scenario you need to go to your local social security administration. While you are there you will need to request your work history and look at it carefully. Most institutions are required by Federal Law to pay a portion of your check to social security. This is how to find out who is reporting social security wages. Remember, you may not be a victim of identity theft but a victim of human error. If you see a company you have never worked for then you need to take action.
One thing you should never, never do. Attempt to contact the suspect or where the suspect works or lives. The reason you don't want to do this is so you do not tip them off. In many instances the suspect will take off and go somewhere else and start using the information again. Now you have to file another report. In addition, you may tip of the employer and the suspect is fired. Again, he may go somewhere else and start over again. Another reason is the safety factor. The suspect may live or work in the same community as you. Do you know what this person is capable of doing? Think about it, there have been police officers killed just for doing a traffic stop and the person being stopped didn't want a ticket. How about the innocent victims killed by a drive by shooting? Is it really worth it???? Tell the police and let them conduct the investigation. By you contacting the suspect or the business you may end the investigation before it even begins.
If you uncover information pertaining to your case notify the police. I seen it time and time again where the investigation is being conducted and the victim finds out it was an error. They never notify the police and the investigation goes on. The causes an extreme financial burden for the department and many wasted hours of the investigator's time. File the report and if you find out it is a mistake or it was an account you forgot about…tell the investigator it was a mistake.
In the initial thread he recommended filing a police report. This is still true, but there are some additions. You will need to file a police report where you live. If the incident happened somewhere else, you will need to file a second police report. Police Departments have boundaries called jurisdiction. Let's say you live in Los Angeles and the incident happened in Seattle. You will file a report with Los Angeles Police but they will not be able to investigate because of their jurisdictional boundaries. You will need to file another report with Seattle. The main reason you file a report where you live is because of the convenience of getting a copy of the report.
You may run into a problem when trying to file a police report with another department over the phone. I recommend you check the internet because some departments have websites where you file an online police report. If they do not have a website or do not take online reports call them. They may say they will not take the report over the phone because they can not verify who you are. This is not a problem because you have already filed a report where you live. Contact you local police department and request they send a complete case file to the other department. Contact the other department every now and then to make sure they received the report.
After filing the report you need to try to verify your identity has been stolen. I have had cases where a father, we will call him John Doe, received a letter claiming he has not made a payment on his account. He files a police report and the investigation starts. After gathering documentation for the account it was determined the account was under the name of John Doe II, which was the son. There was no identity theft, just a common mistake. Take a few minutes to contact the company and speak to someone in the fraud department. In some cases you will be assisted with your questions. In other cases the fraud department will tell you they can not release any information. I strongly encourage anyone to keep calm while talking to them. If they tell you they can not release any information get the mailing address before you end the call. Type out a letter indicating you are disputing the account. List in the letter all information you can about the account. At the end of the letter inform them pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting act you are requesting copies of any and all applications and business transaction records for the fraudulent account(s). Provide a mailing address and/or a fax number where the documentation can be sent. You should also request the records are made available to your local police department at their request.
I have attached a link below. This link is for the Federal Trade Commission's brochure page. There are several excellent brochures. In my opinion, one of the best is called “TAKE CHARGE: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT.†This booklet can be downloaded to your computer or printed out. In the booklet are dispute and blocking letters as well as the ID Theft Affidavit and a form to request your credit reports. It will provide you with invaluable information and additional contact numbers for the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service and many more. The booklet will also give you tips on how to better protect yourself.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm
You will also need to place a fraud alert on your account. What you need to remember is there are two different types. The first is just a general fraud alert for 90 days. At the end of 90 days the alert is lifted. They also have what is called the extended fraud alert or 7-year fraud alert. In order to get the extended fraud alert you will have to complete some paperwork. If you feel you may be a victim it is recommended to call and get the 90-day fraud alert. This will allow you time to check your credit and determine if you are a victim or not. If you are not a victim the alert is lifted in 90 days. If you find out you are a victim, the 90-day alert will give you time to complete all the documentation to request the extended or 7-year fraud alert. The key point to remember about the extended fraud alert is to keep your contact information up to date.
Sometimes your information is not used for credit, but for employment. In this scenario you need to go to your local social security administration. While you are there you will need to request your work history and look at it carefully. Most institutions are required by Federal Law to pay a portion of your check to social security. This is how to find out who is reporting social security wages. Remember, you may not be a victim of identity theft but a victim of human error. If you see a company you have never worked for then you need to take action.
One thing you should never, never do. Attempt to contact the suspect or where the suspect works or lives. The reason you don't want to do this is so you do not tip them off. In many instances the suspect will take off and go somewhere else and start using the information again. Now you have to file another report. In addition, you may tip of the employer and the suspect is fired. Again, he may go somewhere else and start over again. Another reason is the safety factor. The suspect may live or work in the same community as you. Do you know what this person is capable of doing? Think about it, there have been police officers killed just for doing a traffic stop and the person being stopped didn't want a ticket. How about the innocent victims killed by a drive by shooting? Is it really worth it???? Tell the police and let them conduct the investigation. By you contacting the suspect or the business you may end the investigation before it even begins.
If you uncover information pertaining to your case notify the police. I seen it time and time again where the investigation is being conducted and the victim finds out it was an error. They never notify the police and the investigation goes on. The causes an extreme financial burden for the department and many wasted hours of the investigator's time. File the report and if you find out it is a mistake or it was an account you forgot about…tell the investigator it was a mistake.