Although fraud and identity theft can occur to anyone at any time, there are solid steps you can take to reduce the recovery time if you unfortunately become a victim:
•Contact all three agencies for copies of your credit report. You may order one for free at annualcreditreport.com. You can also visit these agencies individually: TransUnion here or via 1-800-680-7289; Experian or at 1-888-397-3742; Equifax, 1-880-525-6285.
Then review your reports carefully according to the outline below:
- Recognize all accounts listed and confirm that the balances are in line with your records.
- Determine the legitimacy of persons and entities requesting or receiving a copy of your report.
- Search the inquiries for loans or accounts for which you did not apply. (If you find one, this may be a sign that an identity thief has fraudulently opened it in your name).
- Confirm there are no addresses listed for places you have never lived.
- Check that all this information is consistent across the bureaus.
If there is false or suspicious information, contact these credit agencies immediately. If something is concerning about a particular creditor, you will want to contact that company directly.
And be sure to visit this link to see how we’re working to provide you with enhanced security.