CREDIT FRAUD AWARENESS
STEPS TO TAKE

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) IS OFFERED HERE AS A COURTESY TO SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY, ALUMNI, PARENTS AND FRIENDS

If you have reason to believe your personal information has been compromised or is being misused:

1. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus.
   1. Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert including a statement that creditors should get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name.
      
   
   
   2. Ask them for copies of your credit reports. (Credit bureaus must give you a free copy of your report if it is inaccurate because of fraud.) Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your accounts.
      
   
   
   3. In a few months, order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
      
      CREDIT BUREAUS
      Equifax: 800-685-1111 / 800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
      Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) www.experian.com
      Trans Union: 800-916-8800 / 800-680-7289 www.tuc.com
      
      DIRECT LINES FOR REPORTING FRAUD TO THE CREDIT BUREAUS
      Equifax: 888-766-0008
      Experian: 888-397-3742
      Trans Union: 800-680-7289
      
      IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ISSUED FREE CREDIT REPORTS, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE CALLING THE DIRECT LINES FOR REPORTING FRAUD AND NOT ORDERING CREDIT REPORTS ONLINE.
      
      
2. If your credit accounts have been tampered with or if new accounts have been opened fraudulently, contact your creditors.
   
   1. Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department, and follow up in writing. Following up with a letter is one of the procedures spelled out in the Fair Credit Billing Act for resolving errors on credit billing statements, including charges that you have not made.
      
   
   
   2. If you discover a changed billing address on an existing credit card account, close the account.
      
   
   
   3. When you open a new account, ask that a password be used before any inquiries or changes can be made on the account. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers. Avoid the same information and numbers when you create a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
   
   
3. If you have reason to believe that an identity thief has accessed your bank accounts, checking account or ATM card, close the accounts immediately.
   
   When you open new accounts, insist on password-only access
   
   
4. Check your Social Security statement by calling 800-772-1213.
   
   1. If it appears that someone is using your SSN when applying for a job, get in touch with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify the accuracy of your reported earnings and that your name is reported correctly.
      
   
   
   2. If you suspect that your name or SSN is being used by an identity thief to get a driver’s license, report it to your Department of Motor Vehicles.
      
   
   
   3. If your state uses your SSN as your driver’s license number, ask to substitute another number.
      
   
   
5. Call your police department and file a police report.
   
1. Get a copy of the report; many creditors want the information it contains to absolve you of any fraudulent debts.
   


2. You also should file a complaint with the FTC at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or at 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcers for their investigations.
   


3. If your state uses your SSN as your driver’s license number, ask to substitute another number.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. For more information visit www.ftc.gov or www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Additional resources
- National Fraud Information Center Hotline: 800-876-7060
- Identity Theft Resource Center: 858-693-7935