Clearing Up An Identity Theft Crime Scene

No matter how much you can protect yourself, identity theft is still a real risk that can happen to you.  Identity theft has just become so rampant that anybody is vulnerable.  So part of protecting yourself these days, is knowing what to do once you’ve been hit by identity theft.  Thinking of this like a crime scene is a pretty good tactic, because you’re going to have to be your own investigator to resolve your credit issues and clear your name.

The first thing to do if you suspect your identity of being stolen, is to request current credit reports from all three major bureaus.  That means contacting Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.  You can find all the contact info you’ll ever need at the website for each company.  Transunion.com, Equifax.com and Experian.com.

Go over this credit report and spot any inconsistencies that you find suspect.  If you see bank accounts or loans taken out in your name, one of the factors here is your Social Security Number being stolen.  To immediately report SSN theft you have to contact the Social Security Administration.  Socialsecurity.gov has all the contact information that you need.  The fraud hotline is where you need to call first, but make sure you follow up with a letter, so that you can have your claim on file in two ways.  That way nothing slips through the cracks.

Another step you need to take if your identity has been stolen via a bank account or credit card account, is filing an identity theft affidavit.  This is part of the legal proceedings you have to go through to close the fraudulent accounts, and move forward possibly pressing charges against the perpetrators.  Performing those actions as soon as possible limit’s the damage done, and also works to save your credit as quickly as possible.  Working quickly will help you reclaim your credit and your name.