09 Aug What to Do if Your Identity is Stolen
If you have ever experienced the headache of having your identity stolen, you know it is not something you ever want to experience again.
Not only can it be difficult to recover lost money, it can be hard to explain to creditors for a long time even after your identity is once again proven. Of course, prevention is your best defense against identity theft. We recommend taking all necessary precautions like opening a fraud protection plan on your credit cards when you open an account and keeping your transactions private.
However, when identity theft does occur, there are a few things you will want to do as soon as you possibly can to help expedite the recovery process. First things first, have a fraud alert placed on your credit report. That way if anything is charged without your permission, your report will reflect your proactivity.
Have recent credit or bank transactions checked to make sure nothing has been charged or withdrawn without your permission. Do this by contacting your bank and all credit card companies directly. If you can have a hold put on your accounts until things are sorted out, you should. That way any unauthorized attempts at using your accounts can be documented. If you are certain how your identity was stolen (driver’s license, credit card, social security card) contact the establishment issuing the cards directly. Be sure to protect your social security number by contacting the Social Security Administration.
Contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and file a report. They will help you and walk you through each step. File a police report so that the offenders will be charged with a crime.
You may have some coverage through your homeowner’s insurance when your identity is stolen. If you have any questions about how your homeowners’ insurance can protect you from identity theft, please call us.
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