Identity Theft

If you have been a victim of identity theft file a report with the police department immediately. Get a copy of the report or the number of your report in case your bank, credit card company, or insurance company needs proof of the crime. Even when you discover you are a victim of identity theft, it takes months of frustrating effort to clear your name and credit history. Guard your personal information. Guard your mail. Guard your wallet or purse. Guard your phone and internet. Guard your trash. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission FTC online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft by phone at 1-877-438-4338 or by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington DC 20580. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll free 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the US and abroad. Download a copy of Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft the FTC's free comprehensive consumer guide to help you recover from identity theft.