SQ 11-2
1. Contact your bank immediately. An ATM/debit card often has a VISA/MC logo, so it can be processed like a credit card, but the money comes out of your checking account.
Contact your credit card companies next. Credit card fraud is a common form of identity theft. The cards that were stolen will get used quickly, usually for a few large purchases, or several small ones. Most credit card companies are wise to this, and watch for "unusual buying patterns," but don't count on that. Let them know as soon as you hang up with your bank.
Make a report with your local police department. Get the report number, and a hard copy of the report. Every company you work with to fix an identity theft issue will want a copy of this, so make several. Always keep the original.
Contact your insurance agent. Most homeowner's policies have some sort of identity theft coverage. This would be a great time to find out what it covers. The Federal Trade Commission published a brochure in 2008. It warned consumers to be careful what they buy. They said most identity theft products don't really do anything you can't do yourself for free.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-IDTHEFT). The FTC collects information about identity theft for studies and analysis. They may send you a copy of Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft, a booklet to help victims recover.
Call your other card issuers. Call the library if you had a library card. Call Blockbusters if you had a movie rental card. Call your car rental company, campus security, Victoria's Secret, everybody who gave you some sort of credit or ID card...even those shopper/savings cards. Identity thieves have run up all sorts of bills in their victim's names. They're creative, and it's impossible to know how your information will get misused.
Call your lawyer. Identity theft almost always creates legal problems. Talk to your lawyer about what's happened, what you've done, and see if they have any other advice. Some states have laws and agencies to help identity theft victims, a lawyer can point you in the right direction.
2.
This is a chronological and detailed journal of events which is best kept in a bound booklet, ledger-type book or electronic document. * Dated log: Keep a dated log either on the computer or on paper. A bound booklet, like a ledger book where pages cannot be easily removed, carries a great deal of weight in a court case. Start with the first contact, letter or call as a victim of identity theft and continue from there. Make sure you have updated security systems in place if you use a computer. Don’t use post-its or scraps of paper as they tend to get lost. If necessary tape them into your dated log. * Journaling: Keep track of each person you spoke with, their title, employee number, phone and fax number, email address and the procedure you need to use to reach them easily (i.e., Punch 2, then *, then 41). Include what they said, any follow-up needed from that call and the date that follow-up should occur. * Confirm agreements and discussions: Whenever possible ask for written confirmation of a discussion. If refused, mail or e-mail a “Confirmation of Discussion” to that person stating that if the information as you listed it is incorrect, they should contact you. When they don’t, what you have could be considered a confirmation of the call. Mail this by return receipt requested mail so you have a paper trail. Fax or email is acceptable only if you get a written response of receipt. * Log items received and sent: Keep a log of what you receive, who sent it, and what steps you took that day with that piece of mail or the phone call. * Telephone records: To find numbers quickly you may want to start a separate telephone and address book. However, also include this information in the official case log. Some victims like to use the last few pages of the log as a directory, working backwards as it grows.
3. Many victims first find out about a case of identity theft when a credit issuer or a collection agency contacts them to collect money. It is distressing to receive a call or letter from a collection agency when the debt was created by an identity theft criminal. Further, many people become fearful that their financial reputation will be ruined permanently. Fortunately, collection agencies are regulated by a number of laws. They do not want to affect the wrong person’s credit or attempt to collect from someone who does not owe a valid debt.
4. If you are a victim of identity theft and have created an Identity Theft Report, you may want to place an extended fraud alert or a credit freeze on your credit file. There are important differences between these two options: * A freeze generally stops all access to your credit report, while a fraud alert permits creditors to get your report as long as they take steps to verify your identity. * The availability of a credit freeze depends on state law or a consumer reporting company’s policies; fraud alerts are federal rights intended for people who believe they are, or who actually have been, identity theft victims. * Some states charge a fee for placing or removing a credit freeze, but it’s free to place or remove a fraud alert. SQ 11-4

What is the rip-off about? | What are the rebuttals or comments? | Report has merit or no merit? | Stainsafe sold couches with 7 years warranty but the couches are peeling. | There no customer service contact information. | Yes, the company should establish customer service department. | Alyon Technology harass businesses constantly. | The representatives refused to provide contact information of a supervisor or manager. | They have no right to harass people. | LA Fitness, manager harassing members. | The manager constantly harass members at gym. And the corporate office ignores complaints. | Yes, the corporate office should not ignore the complaints. | Intelliflix sends wrong movies to the customers. | When customer complains, they said they would give credit back. They did not give any credit back nor refund the money. | No, because the customer did not take the issue to the upper level management. | Green Tea personal loan company is trying the charge clients for some additional hidden fee that was not disclosed initially. | They did not disclose or mention this fee. | No, the client needs to contact upper level. | Geico charges the client for 2 different policies. | The client thinks he would be charged for 2 policies until he realized it. | No, because he did not contact the Geico authorities. | HSBC Auto Finance is giving plans to clients without explaining and disclosing it clear. | The client thinks he is getting overcharged and the company is ignoring him. | Yes, they have ignored him since he started complain. | Ifriend company charges people without their authorization. | People realize this when they check their bank accounts. | No, because the money has been refunded. |