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Identity Theft Victim: What to Do In Case You Become a Victim
By Bill Southgate

In spite of one's best efforts in managing the flow of personal information as well as keeping it secret, skilled identity thieves can gain access to such data through sophisticated means. It may be through stealing records from your workplace, hacking these records, or simply conning the information out of gullible people. Whatever means are employed; the identity theft victim should take certain steps immediately he or she becomes aware of the identity theft and, thus clean up the mess created. The identity theft victim should keep records with details of conversations as well as copies of correspondence and, place a fraud alert on their credit card reports as well as review credit reports. A fraud alert will help to prevent the identity thief from causing further damage to your finances. All that is required is to contact the toll-free fraud number of any consumer reporting company and, place a fraud alert on your credit report. This will entitle you to receive free copies of your credit report for reviewing and taking remedial action.

Be Aware and Close Accounts That Are Affected

In case you are an identity theft victim, you may also need to close the account that you believe or know has been tampered with or, opened fraudulently. This would require calling and speaking to the concerned person in the security or fraud department of each company and, follow it up in writing and include copies but, not the originals, of supporting documents. It is necessary to give notice in writing to credit card companies and banks and, send these letters through certified mail so that you are able to document what the company received as well as when.

You may also need to prove that you are indeed an identity theft victim and, this may be possible through showing that the signature on the application is not yours. You also need to file a report with the local police or the police in the community where the identity theft occurred and, obtain a copy of the police report or, the number of the report. This will help in dealing with creditors who may require proof of the crime having taken place.

Lastly, the identity theft victim should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission because sharing your identity theft complaint with them will provide vital information to help law enforcement agencies throughout the country to track down the identity thieves and, apprehend them. The Federal Trade Commission would be able to refer the identity theft victim's complaint to other government agencies and companies so that further action may be taken and, to also investigate companies for violating laws that the agency enforces. One may also need to file an identity theft report to complete the theft reporting process.

Author Details:
Bill Southgate writes for various websites about various things including identity theft with a great interest in home security

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