REPORT IDENTITY THEFT

After you have contacted your financial institution about fraud or identity theft, you may also want to contact the credit bureaus and the federal government.

Credit Bureaus
Merchant Check Guarantee Firms
Social Security Services
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
United States Postal Service and Local Police
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Credit Bureaus

Contact the credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report and look for unknown inquiries or approved credit. If you notice fraudulent activity, request a fraud alert be placed on your record so that no further credit be approved unless you are contacted directly before approval is granted. You will only have to place the alert with one bureau and they will notify the rest.

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Merchant Check Guarantee Firms

Report any lost or stolen checks and any bank account that is set up fraudulently under your name to all of the below:

• Telecheck (800) 366-2425
• National Processing Company (800) 526-5380
• SCAN (800) 262-7771
• CrossCheck (800) 552-1900
• Market Block List (888) 567-8688

These agencies will place information in their systems about checks that are reported as stolen or lost. They will also make note of accounts that were opened for the purpose of true name fraud. This information is then made available to merchants who subscribe to their service

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Social Security Services

Report victimization and improper use of your Social Security Number to the SSA Hotline at (877) 438-4338. For more information, contact your local Social Security Office.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC Consumer Response Center provides information, logs complaints, and helps victims of identity theft rectify damage to their credit and personal reputation. Contact the FTC through one of these methods:

• (877) FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• FTC Consumer Response Center

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United States Post Office and Local Police Department

• Contact your local post office or complete a Mail Fraud Complaint Form to report any crime involving stolen mail, or use of mail in a fraudulent scheme.
• File a police report with your local police department. Make sure you keep a copy of the report for your records.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

If your driver's license is stolen, report the theft immediately to your local DMV.

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