How are you protecting yourself from identity theft?
Identity theft is a very serious offense that can ruin your finances and credit scores. The effects of identity theft are so devastating that it is difficult to compensate for the loss.Here are some steps that help you prevent identity theft:Create strong passwords – Create strong passwords using random combinations of letters, numbers, symbols or special characters. Make sure you create different passwords for different accounts. If needed, you can change them also from time to time.Shred your sensitive documents – Never toss your sensitive information like your bank details or receipts in the trash. Always dispose it properly using a cross-cut shredder or shredding service.Always check and monitor your credit reports – Ensure that your check your credit reports occasionally. You can request one free credit report every four months and review it to scan for any incorrect information.Protect your Social Security number – Do not share your personal login credentials with any one at any cost. Never keep your social security numbers in purse or wallets.Be cautious when using social media – Be smart when updating your personal information like your birthdays, addresses or contact details. Make sure you strengthen your privacy settings. Also, be careful when accepting friend requests or connectionsKeep your phones safe – Make sure you secure your phone by keeping screen locks or put passwords, disable Bluetooth when not using it and be careful while downloading any free software version.Learn how to detect phishing frauds – Do not open any unsolicited email attachments, embedded links, SMS or answer any phone call asking to reveal your personal information.Review and monitor your financial statements – If you find any suspicious activity in your bank or credit card accounts, report it to your respective bank immediately.Secure your mails – Swipe off unknown mails to prevent identity theft. Using a locked mailbox or P.O. Box is a good idea
What's the best way to report identity theft?
Sorry this has happened to you. You have done very well is assessing the situation and making yourself more resistant to this in future. OK, here is the bad news - the police are not going to do a thing. They are overwhelmed with ID theft cases and just pass on them. You may share the information with the state police but I am sure they also will do nothing. My suggestion is to take care of yourself and check your homeowners insurance to see if you have coverage to deal with identity theft.There are ways to post the number and let the world know they are a scammer, but now you might tick off someone who has all day to mess with you and make your lifer miserable. It is best to move on.
Can I report identity theft without filing a police report?
Contact your local police department AND the department where your father committed the identity theft crimes and ask them how to proceed. They have seen (unfortunately) many cases like this and they will be able to guide you on how to proceed from there. While the statute of imitations may have passed, your father may still be using your ID for fraud in other manners and you need to determine how bad the damage is.If it truly has been ten years, then the credit agencies are required BY LAW to remove any false information from their reports. Write each one of them a letter, make certain that you send it certified with a return receipt and make certain that you keep a copy. This may have to be done several times to make certain that they heed you.If they ignore you after a month or so, contact the Federal trade Commission and ask them how to proceed. Explain your situation and have them intercede on your behalf. This could several months to several years but you need to keep at it until you have this situation resolved. Document ALL of the conversations that you have with them and retain all of the mail that you receive from them.Finally, contact the Social Security Administration and explain your situation. If you can get police reports and information from the Federal Trade Commission, it may be possible for you to obtain a new Social Security number. If this occurs, DO NOT let anyone have access to it who doesn’t have a need for it.
Do I have to file a police report to claim identity theft?
Question: Do I have to file a police report to claim identity theft?Yes, you do.If you do not file a police report, the creditors affected will assume that you created the charges and that you are trying to avoid paying for them. They are on solid ground if they demonstrate that you did not file a police report to alert the authorities of the theft or misuse of your identity.Additionally, if the identity theft extends beyond the criminal(s) using your identity to obtain credit cards or lines of credit, and actually results in thefts from your bank accounts, retirement funds or even results in the unlawful sale of your home or some property, then without a police report, it will again be assumed that YOU, the victim, are the person who initiated these fund thefts/transfers and that no crime has been committed.Finally, the identity theft can occur again at any time. The thieves still have your information, they an assume that you’ll work to repair your credit and they can wait until they are out of prison to again start stealing from you or from others pretending to BE you. If there’s no record that this ever happened before (e.g. prior police reports) then there’s no reason to believe that it won’t happen again.You need to file a police report as soon as you believe that your identity has been stolen. Despite what is written in another answer to this question, YOU, the consumer are responsible for the debts unless you take the steps to prove that you are not. Ignoring the problem or trying to have the creditors “fix” the problem will result in your finances and personal life remaining in turmoil.
When walking into a police station to file an identity theft report, do the police run my name for warrants?
At least where I'm from (Ontario, Canada) it's common to run virtually everyone coming in contact with police for warrants, since they're already collecting identifying information on you.This will likely vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as different rules may apply to use of that information collected.
How do I report identity theft to the IRS?
I would go to their official page and once you're at their official website, I would use their search engine on their homepage. There i would put in your question and it should bring you up to the spot where you can write a complaint on their website.also if you were victimized online you can contact the FBI at the following addresshttps://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
How can one claim or report Facebook identity theft?
Happened to me. Someone set up a fake profile using my pictures, interests, comments. At the bottom of the left sidebar is a link 'Report/Block this person',Click that, and you get a form that looks like this,Fill in the form and check 'This profile is pretending to be someone or is fake'.Click continue and you can add more details. I did this and Facebook took the fake me down very quickly (a couple of hours).It's quite unnerving to find someone pretending to be you, but thankfully there are effective systems in place for dealing with it.
