Curb the Demand

Check and Credit Card Fraud is a real business for crooks, built on supply and demand. Impossible to curb the demand, you can help eliminate the supply by taking the following precautions:

• TEAR UP or shred all old and unused checks and credit cards. This includes any applications you receive in the mail that you do not want to keep.
• PROTECT your checks and credit cards at home. Lock up your supply, even from family and friends.
• While shopping, KEEP all checks and credit cards in your possession. Do not leave purses and wallets unattended, even for a second. Don’t leave them in your car.
• At work, SECURE all checks and credit cards. Don’t leave purses and wallets exposed.

Most thefts of checks and credit cards are CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY. Help reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

What actions to take if you become a victim?

PRIORITIES

(Should be done within 24 hrs)

• File a report with your local law enforcement agency.
• Obtain a copy of your police report for your records.
• Contact all vendors and banks that have been tampered with and let them know you are a victim of fraud. If applicable have the accounts for the compromised checks, credit cards, etc. closed.

Other Actions you can take

Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at (877) 438-4338.

• Complete the ID Theft Affidavit on the FTC web site and complain form for a repot. (http://www.ftc.gov/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf)
• Notify the Social Security Administration to replace Social Security or Medicare/Medicaid cards. DO NOT obtain a new Social Security number. You will loose your credit history. (http://www.ssa.gov/)
• Contact any of the below listed credit bureaus to add protection to your file.
• Check with the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if a duplicate driver's license has been taken out in your name.

How to handle contacts from collection agencies

• 1. Draft letter explaining you have been the victim of fraud and include the police report number.
• 2. Mail a copy of the police report and the letter to the collection agency.

• Keep copies of all correspondence sent to creditors.

Creditors

• EQUIFAX

P.O. box 740123

Atlanta Georgia 30374-0123

888-567-8688

• EXPERIAN (TWA)

P.O. Box 919

Allen, Texas 75013

800-353-0809

• TRANS UNION

P.O. Box 97328

Jackson, Mississippi 39288-7328

800-680-7293