For Victims of Identity Theft
If you are a victim of identity theft, the Opt Out Detectives are here to help you with step by step instructions of what you will need to do to protect yourself from further losses and begin the road to recovery.
Being a victim of identity theft can leave a person feeling lost in what steps to take to properly report the crime. Many times victims of identity theft become frustrated because of the information they need to provide and the identity theft goes unreported. When reporting an identity theft to a police department, if the required information isn’t included when you call the police, they will tell you what to gather and then come back to complete a report.
The Opt Out Detectives has created this page as an instant resource to use if you are a victim of identity theft. We will direct you, step by step, and provide you with instructions and forms needed to file a complete report with your local police department and creditors. This will give the investigators and your creditors the information they require to process your identity theft report.
Step 1:
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, order a copy of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies. If you know you are a victim of identity theft you will need a copy for your records and police report. Their contact info is:
Equifax:
P.O. Box 740250
Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241.
Report fraud: Call (888) 766-0008 and write to address above.
TDD: (800) 255-0056
Web: www.equifax.com
Experian:
P.O. Box 9532
Allen TX, 75013
Report fraud: Call (888-397-3742) and write to address above.
TDD: Use relay to fraud number above.
Web: www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion:
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289 and write to address above.
TDD: (877) 553-7803
E-mail (fraud victims only): fvad@transunion.com
Web: www.transunion.com
Once you have a copy of your credit report and you confirm there is fraudulent activity, request that a fraud alert is placed on your credit report. This will be good for 90 days. During the 90 day period, make sure to send a written request for a credit freeze to be placed on your credit report. Even if you have done so before, call 1-888-567-8688 to opt out of pre-approved offers of credit. We will remind you to do this again in a later step.
Step 2:
Contact all of your banks, financial institutions, credit card companies and inform them of the identity theft. Make sure you document the date, time and person you spoke with. You will be contacting them again to provide them with documentation relating to the identity theft. Close all accounts that you know were compromised or accessed fraudulently or created fraudulently. Request that any forms the bank requires to be filled out in reference to the fraudulent accounts be sent to you or go to the bank and complete the forms in person.
Step 3:
Download the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Affidavit here. Read the instructions and complete the form as soon as possible with the information you have available to you. Many creditors request a copy of this form to be sent to them within two weeks of filing an identity theft complaint.
Download the Opt Out Detectives Identity Theft Questionnaire Form here. Prior to contacting your local police department, complete the questionnaire form the best you can. This will provide the Officer or Detective assigned to your case with valuable information they may or may not have asked you. This will also reduce your frustration since you will be providing detailed, valuable information often requested by investigators for the identity theft report. This step saves the most time and frustration because you know what to provide before meeting with the Officer or Detective. (Not all police agencies will meet with you. Some larger police agencies only take identity theft reports by phone.)
Opt Out Detectives also recommends printing the Memorandum from the Federal Trade Commission and having it available with you when you meet with the assigned Police Officer or Detective. This explains to the police department how important it is for you to obtain an identity theft report.
Make sure when the police or creditors request the forms provided to you above, you make copies for them and you keep the working original. Every time you release a copy of the form document the date, time and who received the copied forms.
Step 4:
Upon completing the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Affidavit and the Opt Out Detectives Identity Theft Questionnaire, contact your local police department to file an identity theft report. This may require you to meet the assigned detective at the police department for you to provide the copies of your credit report and other financial statements. These documents will be valuable pieces of evidence if a suspect is located.
Follow all the instructions given by the Police Officer or Detective. They will be the investigators building evidence if a suspect is located and charged with committing identity theft against you.
Make sure you obtain a police identity theft report number and follow up and order a copy of the police identity theft report. If the police department refuses to issue an identity theft police report, request an incident report or miscellaneous report.
Step 5:
Begin removing your information from the internet by opting out of data vendors and freeze your credit. This process can be completed by purchasing the OptOutDetectives opt out process here. Make sure you complete all of the opt outs offered on our resource page and don’t forget to call 1-888-567-8688 to opt out of pre-approved offers of credit. Remember, someone has compromised your identity and may be receiving pre-approved offers for credit at another address.
The above steps are a necessary actions required to obtain an identity theft report from your local police department and to stop fraudulent activity occurring in your name. The Opt Out Detectives have provided the above information for several victims of identity theft to help them obtain an identity theft report. The Opt Out Detectives Identity Theft Questionnaire Form, designed by members in law enforcement, has been proven effective in providing detailed information for the investigating agency.