Go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website on identity theft (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) for step-
by-step instructions on how to handle the situation. Here you can download an ID Theft Affidavit for disputing new unauthorized accounts and for filing a complaint with the FTC.
Check out the FTC’s all-in-one guide on what to do for specific identity-theft problems, like a lost or stolen ATM/debit card, stolen checks, a misused Social Security number or driver’s-license number, and more. Go to www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm.
If anxiety over identity theft is wearing you down, visit the Identity Theft Resource Center (www.idtheftcenter.org/vresources.shtml) for tips on coping
with stress and to learn talking points for dealing with credit-
card companies,
banks, and creditors.
And remember: You are not alone! Identity-theft victims share their stories on the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse site (www.privacyrights.org). The site also provides a list of resources, including many states’ specific websites on identity theft and fact sheets on what to do and whom to call when identity theft strikes.
