Report Identity Theft… But Whom Do I Call First?

So you either suspect or know you've been targeted, where do you report identity theft? The first place you should call would be your bank, credit card company, or the store where you have a line of credit. This should immediately alert the institution and minimize your liability. You'll find it easier to get out of the problem when you show that you did all you can to report identity theft.

However, time is of the essence! Don't waste time wrangling with a store underling. But make sure you take down everyone's name, including dates and times!

Then report identity theft to the following agencies, depending on your specific circumstances.

Report Identity Theft to the Federal Trade Commission

If you have any difficulty when you try to report identity theft to any of the above institutions involved in your case, hang up and call the FTC instead.

Mandated by the Identity Theft & Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 to receive and process complaints from identity theft victims, the FTC is also given the responsibility under federal law to refer complaints to the appropriate agencies. This includes the major credit and police agencies.

You have two options:

• Use their hotline, 1-877-IDTHEFT (or 1-877-438-4338)
• Use their complaint form at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Report Identity Theft to the Social Security Administration

Okay, here's the bad news: The SSA doesn't usually give help to victims of identity theft. But they have mechanisms in place so you can fix the problem.

You have three options:

• Use their hotline 800-269-0271
• Use their complaint form at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig
• Change your number (Only an option if you fit the SSA's victim of fraud criteria. Visit http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html for details.)

More bad news: Even if your SSN has been hijacked and report identity theft to all the proper entities, getting a new SSN may not make the problem go away completely.

A new SSN is not an assurance that you'll get a fresh credit record. Bureaus may end up combining all your credit files from both your old and new SSNs anyway!

What's more, even when your fraudulent, spotty history is no longer attached to your new SSN, having no credit history under a new SSN may make it hard for you to get credit!

Report Identity Theft to the Three Major Credit Bureaus

You should be familiar with these three offices, since you must already be requesting free, periodic credit reports from them by now.

Call the following numbers to report identity theft:

• Equifax 800-525-6285
• Experian 888-EXPERIAN (or 888-397-3742)
• TransUnion 800-680-7289