It is always advisable to regularly review statements from your accounts and periodically obtain your credit report from one or more of the national credit reporting companies. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com by calling toll free 1.877.322.8228, or by mailing an Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at www.annualcreditreport.com) to: Annual Credit Report Request Service. P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281. You may also purchase a copy of your credit report by contacting one or more of the three national credit reporting agencies listed below:
- Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. 1.800.685.1111. www.equifax.com
- Experian, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013. 1.888.397.3742. www.experian.com
- TransUnion, Consumer Disclosure Center, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19016. 1.800.888.4213. www.transunion.com
Fraud Alert: You may contact the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus to request that a “fraud alert” be placed on your file. A fraud alert notifies potential lenders to verify your identification before extending credit in your name.
- Equifax – Report Fraud: 1.888.378.4329
- Experian – Report Fraud: 1.888.397.3742
- TransUnion – Report Fraud: 1.800.680.7289
Security Freeze for Credit Reporting Agencies: You may request a security freeze on your credit reports. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit mortgages, employment, housing or other services. It is free to place, lift or remove a security freeze. You must separately place a security freeze on your credit report at each credit bureau. To do so, you must contact the credit bureaus by phone, mail, or secure electronic means:
- Equifax: P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348, 1.888.298.0045, www.Equifax.com
- Experian: P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013, 1.888.397.3742, www.Experian.com
- TransUnion: P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094, 1.800.916.8800, www.TransUnion.com
To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following:
- Your full name (including middle initial, Jr., Sr., Roman numerals, etc.),
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address(es) where you have lived over the prior five years
- Proof of current address such as a current utility bill
- A photocopy of a government-issued ID card
- If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft
If you request a freeze online or by phone, the agency must place the freeze within one business day. The credit bureaus have three business days after receiving a request by mail to place a security freeze on your credit report, and they must also send confirmation to you within five business days and provide you with a unique personal identification number (PIN) or password, or both that can be used by you to authorize the removal or lifting of the security freeze. To lift the freeze to allow a specific entity or individual access to your credit report, you must contact the credit reporting agencies and include (1) proper identification; (2) the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze; and (3) the identities of those entities or individuals you would like to receive your credit report or the specific period of time you want the credit report available.
You also have rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These include, among others, the right to know what is in your file; to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information; and to have consumer reporting agencies correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. For more information about the FCRA, please visit http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/bcfp_consumer-rights-summary_2018-09.pdf or http://www.ftc.gov.
Steps You Can Take if You Are a Victim of Identity Theft
- File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of a crime.
- Contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC provides useful information to identity theft victims and maintains a database of identity theft cases for use by law enforcement agencies. File a report with the FTC by calling the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); online at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft; or by mail at Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
- Keep a record of your contacts. Start a file with copies of your credit reports, the police reports, any correspondence, and copies of disputed bills. It is helpful to log conversations with creditors, law enforcement officials, and other relevant parties.
Additional Steps to Avoid Identity Theft: The FTC has further information about steps to take to avoid identity theft at: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft; calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); or write to Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.
State Specific Information
- Oregon residents may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office. This office can be reached by visiting the website at www.doj.state.or.us, calling (503) 378-4400 or requesting more information from the Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096.
- District of Columbia residents can obtain information from the District of Columbia’s Attorney General’s Office regarding steps to take to avoid identity theft. This office can be reached by visiting the website at https://oag.dc.gov/, calling (202) 727-3400, or visiting 400 6th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001.
- Iowa residents may contact law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to report suspected incidents of identity theft. This office can be reached by visiting the website at www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov, calling (515) 281-5164 or requesting more information from the Office of the Attorney General, Hoover State Office Building, 1305 E. Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50319.
- Massachusetts residents are reminded that you have the right to obtain a police report and request a security freeze as described above. There is no charge to place a security freeze on your account; however, you may be required to provide the credit reporting agency with certain personal information (such as your name, Social Security Number, date of birth and address) and proper identification (such as a copy of a government-issued ID card and a bill or statement) prior to its honoring your request.
- Maryland residents can learn more about preventing identity theft from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, by visiting their web site at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov, calling the Identity Theft Unit at 1.410.576.6491, or requesting more information at the Identity Theft Unit, 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202.
- New Mexico residents are reminded that you have the right to obtain a police report and request a security freeze as described above and you have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act as described above.
- New York residents can learn more about preventing identity theft from the North York Office of the Attorney General, by visiting their web site at https://ag.ny.gov/resources/individuals/credit-lending/identity-theft, calling 1.800.771.77755 or requesting more information from the New York Attorney General’s Office, 28 Liberty St, New York, NY 10005.
- North Carolina residents can learn more about preventing identity theft from the North Carolina Office of the Attorney General, by visiting their web site at https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/identity-theft/, calling 1.877.566.7226 or requesting more information from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001.
- Rhode Island residents are reminded that you have the right to obtain a police report and request a security freeze as described above. The consumer reporting agencies may require that you provide certain personal information (such as your name, Social Security Number, date of birth and address) and proper identification (such as a copy of a government-issued ID card and a bill or statement) prior to honoring your request. Residents can learn more by contacting the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General by phone at 1.401.274.4400 or by mail at 150 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.
- South Carolina residents may access educational resources and the availability of consumer assistance from the South Caroline Department of Consumer Affairs. This office can be reached by visiting the website at https://consumer.sc.gov/, calling (803) 734-4200, or visiting 293 Greystone Boulevard, Ste. 400 Columbia, SC 29210.
- Vermont residents may learn helpful information about fighting identity theft, placing a security freeze, and obtaining a free copy of your credit report on the Vermont Attorney General’s website at http://www.atg.state.vt.us.