As the fastest growing crime in America, you could become a victim of identity theft. My advice to you is first of all, remain calm and get your documentation organized. Then take the following steps:
- Contact the three major credit reporting bureaus which are: Transunion, Equifax and Experian. Request a “credit freeze” and a “fraud alert” which will last for 7 years. The credit freeze will literally freeze your credit and not allow any credit to be extended in your name or accounts opened in your name without you authorizing it in advance and your identity being verified. The “fraud alert” will allow no credit to be extended in your name without verification of your identity in advance. All this is best done on line.
- Update all your on-line passwords with complex passwords containing at least 9 characters, numbers, and symbols for your financial accounts. (Do not do this from your phone using public Wi-Fi.)
- Check with the financial institutions you have accounts with to insure your account has not been compromised.
- Make a report with the Police and the Postal Inspector for the United States Postal Service.
- Request a current credit report from all three credit reporting bureaus listed above to see what accounts are open in your name.
- Don’t expect the Police or the Postal Inspector to aggressively investigate your case, or to do any investigation at all. You pretty much need to be your own investigator or contact me and I can help you.