Terms of Use 

What to do if you fear you've fallen victim to identity theft: 

Assume that you will become a victim of credit card fraud, bank fraud, or identity theft if you've given up personal financial information in response to a phishing email or on a phishing website.  Depending on the information you provided, follow these steps:

If you've given out your credit, debit or ATM card info: 

  1. Report the theft of your personal information to the card issuer as quickly as possible.  Many companies have a toll-free number and 24-hour service to deal with just such an emergency. 

  2. Cancel your account and open a new one.

  3. Review your billing statements carefully after the loss  If there are any unauthorized charges, contact the card issuer.

If you've given out your checking account number: 

  1. Report the theft to your financial institution as quickly as possible.

  2. Cancel your account and open a new one.

If you've given out your Social Security number or other identifying info:

  1. Report the theft to the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion)

    • Request a fraud alert and victim's statement is placed in your file

    • Request a free copy of your credit report to check whether any accounts were opened without your consent

    • Request that the agencies remove inquiries and/or fraudulent accounts stemming from the theft

  2. Notify your financial institution(s) and ask them to flag your account then contact you if there's any unusual activity

  3. Contact your local police department to file a criminal report

  4. Contact the Social Security Administration's fraud hotline to report the unauthorized use of your personal identification

  5. Notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your identity theft

  6. Notify the passport office to alert them about anyone ordering a passport in your name

  7. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission

  8. File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC). 

  9. Document the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak to regarding the incident.  Follow-up your phone calls with letters.  Keep copies of your correspondence.

For more information, check out the identity theft helpful web sites below.

Federal Trade Commission: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580, 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).

To report identity theft online: See the FTC consumer information page at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.

Main Credit Reporting Bureaus:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA  30374-0241
(800) 525-6285

Experian
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX  75013
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union
760 Sproul Road
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA  19064-0390
(800) 680-7289.

Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General:

SSA Fraud Hotline
PO Box 17768
Baltimore MD  21235
(800) 269-0271
Fax: 410-597-0118
Email: oig.hotline@ssa.gov.