A Story of Identity Theft: Restoring your Good Name Takes Work
Whether done online or because someone stole your wallet and all your identifying information, when your life suddenly becomes a story of identity theft – restoring your good name takes work – it is hard to know where to start to stave off further damage and if possible curtail the damage that has already been done.
Instead of canceling your credit cards right away, the very first step to restoring your good name requires you to contact the fraud departments of the three major consumer reporting agencies and report the theft as well as request that a fraud alert be placed onto your record. This freezes your credit profile and it will take your permission for any new credit to be obtained.
As your story of identity theft continues, restoring your good name now demands that you report the theft of your credit cards to the individual banks issuing them. Remember that a phone call is the initial point of contact, but it must be followed up in writing! You may do so by email or certified letter.
Your next steps are the Federal Trade Commission which should be alerted to assist in the investigation and also the local police department that has jurisdiction over the locale where the identity theft was perpetrated. Keep in mind that sometimes this is a different location from where you live!
Ask for a copy of the police report or a document stating that you reported the crime and a report was indeed entered into the system. Make numerous copies and attach them to correspondence to your creditors if needed.
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