| Identity theft and credit card fraud are | | | | |
| among the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. | | | | Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN |
| It is estimated that between $2 billion to $3 | | | | |
| billion in credit card fraud is commited | | | | TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 |
| every year. The ways theives are able to | | | | |
| gather the personal identifications of the | | | | The credit bureau you contact will then |
| victims of this fraud vary. They include | | | | contact the remaining two bureaus and all |
| stealing credit cards, stealing from | | | | three will send you a current copy of your |
| mailboxes, going through the trash of the | | | | credit report, free of charge. When you |
| victims, and simply looking over the shoulder | | | | receive these reports, look them over |
| of victims. | | | | carefully. Note any accounts you didn't |
| | | | authorize or debts you don't recognize. Also |
| However, there are several steps you can take | | | | check that all your personal information, |
| immediately if your credit card becomes lost | | | | such as name, address, and Social Security |
| or stolen, or if you find bills in your mail | | | | number are correct. If any incorrect or |
| that you do not recognize or charges you did | | | | fraudulant information is found, contact the |
| not authorize. | | | | credit bureau immediately to have it removed. |
| | | | Then continue to check your credit report on |
| The first step you should take is to initiate | | | | a regular basis to insure no further |
| a fraud alert on all of your credit card | | | | fradulant activity is found. |
| accounts. There is a common misconception | | | | |
| that by doing this it will prevent you from | | | | After initiating a fraud alert, you should |
| obtaining any further credit cards or | | | | then immediately close any accounts you think |
| financing in the future. This is simply | | | | may have been violated and submit an ID theft |
| untrue. What a fraud alert will do is require | | | | affidavit to the credit card companies in |
| creditors to contact you by telephone before | | | | question. You should then file a police |
| any new accounts are opened in your name. It | | | | report with your local police department and |
| will also require creditors to contact you by | | | | also file a case with the Federal Trade |
| telephone before making any requested changes | | | | Commission. |
| to any existing accounts, such as increasing | | | | |
| your line of credit. | | | | Identity theft is a federal offense with |
| | | | stiff penalties for those who dare to attempt |
| To place a fraud alert on your accounts, | | | | it and are caught. By following these simple |
| contact any one of the three major credit | | | | steps you can protect your credit and prevent |
| bureaus: | | | | yourself from becoming a victim of this very |
| | | | serious crime. |
| Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 | | | | |