Identity crime questions; what to do?

Report the incident to Cold Spring Police at once, these tips are as suggested by the Attorney General's Office:

 

If your checks or credit cards were taken:

 

Notify your bank or credit card company if you have not already done so, and have them change the account number. Then call the three credit reporting bureaus to report the loss, and ask them to put a fraud alert on your account so no new credit will be issued without contacting you. This is especially important if any form of identification was also stolen at the same time.

Experian 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union 1-800-680-7289
Equifax 1-800-525-6285

If your stolen checks or cards have been used:

The subsequent use of any of the stolen checks or credit cards must be reported to the police by the merchant or bank where it was presented for payment. Contact the banks and/or businesses that accepted your checks or cards to notify them of the fraudulent use.

Encourage the banks and businesses to pursue charges against any suspects identified. Your bank or credit card company should have you sign an affidavit of check forgery or credit card fraud, and they should reverse all of the checks/charges relating to the fraudulent transactions.

Apply for a new Driver’s License as soon as possible and ask them if anyone has applied for a license since yours was stolen. They can refer you to an investigator. Also, notify the credit reporting bureaus and request a credit report after one month.

If someone has stolen your identity to get new credit:

Call the Cold Spring Police at (320) 685-8666 and make an Identity Theft report. In Minnesota, Identity Theft becomes a crime only when the victim (person or business) suffers a monetary loss. Also, call the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline to notify them and get advice on how to proceed. Notify all three credit reporting bureaus to put a Fraud Alert on your data and immediately request a credit report. You must then advise the credit bureau and the institution making the entry of any specific fraudulent accounts appearing on that report. That institution should send you an affidavit of account/transaction fraud to sign and return to them.

Other internet resources for advice and information:

Federal Bureau of Investigation www.fbi.gov
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse www.privacyrights.org
Internet Fraud Complaint Center www.ifccfbi.gov

Other phone resources for advice and information

Federal Government Information Center (for agency phone numbers) 1 - 800 - 688 - 9889

What you can do to protect yourself and your family from being victimized again

  • Don’t put your D.L. # or SSN# on your checks. This makes it easy to get a false ID made.
  • Don’t carry your social security card or birth certificate copy in your wallet or purse.
  • Keep all credit card receipts safe. Many criminals use numbers off receipts to defraud.
  • Safeguard your PIN#s for all cards/accounts. Do not write them on or keep them with the cards.
  • Shred credit card offers you get in the mail. Thieves steal mail and trash to get these.
  • NEVER give your card # out to someone calling you - Make charges only when you call, and remember, Card Fraud .Investigators will never call and ask for your ~ and expiration date.

The good news: You are NOT responsible for monetary losses. The banks and credit card companies must refund your money losses (if any), although they may hold your money while they are conducting an investigation in the case. Some can charge you up to $50 per account, but most do not.