Identity Theft - What do I do?

Effective July 1, 1998 it is a felony in Georgia to use someone else's identity to obtain something of value O.C.G.A. 16-9-120 through 16-9-127.

1. The first thing you should do is contact your local police department or sherriff's department to report the theft of your identity.
    
   1. Explain to them how your identity was stolen.
   2. Provide them with copies of statements or other documents that you have that support your contention.
       
2. Contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Georgia Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) report the theft of your identity.
    
   1. Contact OCA at 404 651-8600 or 800 869-1123 or at www.ganet.org/gaoca.
   2. Contact FTC at 877 438-4338 or at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
       
3. Contact the major credit reporting agencies
    
   1. Equifax, P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0250, (800) 525-6285
   2. Experian, P.O. Box 1017, Allen, Texas 75013, (888) 397-3742
   3. Trans Union, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, California 92634, (800) 680-7289
      1. After making telephone contact with the credit reporting agencies follow up with a letter.
         1. In letter form explain to each credit reporting agency that someone has stolen your identity to obtain credit or for whatever reason, i.e. driver's license etc.
         2. Give factual information including copies of statements, other documents and police reports that support your contention.
         3. Include in the letter that credit should not be granted unless you or your spouse is contacted for verification.
      2. Request a copy of your credit history
     
4. Contact the company(ies) that has provided credit or other intangible or tangible property to the person who stole your identity.
    
   1. In letter form explain you either did not make the charges that are on your statement or that you never requested credit, or you never applied for the item(s) that were issued using your identity.
   2. Give factual information including copies of statements or other documents that support your contention.
   3. Include a copy of your police report.

Credit Card / Identity Fraud Resources

Credit Reporting Bureaus

Equifax:
P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250
Report Fraud: Call (800) 525-6285 and write to address above
Order Credit Report: (800) 685-1111
Website: www.equifax.com

Experian (formerly TRW):
P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013
Report Fraud: Call (888) 397-3742 and write to address above
Order Credit Report: (888) 397-3742
Website: www.experian.com

Trans Union:
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
Report Fraud: (800) 680-7289 and write to address above
Order Credit Report: (800) 888-4213
Website: www.tuc.com

U.S. Federal Trade Commission

The FTS oversees the operation or credit bureaus. You can find a copy of the Credit Reporting Act on its website. The FTC also provides assistance for identity theft victims. Its website provides a complaint form that can be transmitted to the FTC via the Internet.

Consumer Response Center:
(202) 382-4357
Email: crc@ftc.gov
Website: www.ftc.gov

U.S. Social Security Administration
Report Fraud: (800) 269-0271
Website: www.ssa.gov

Direct Marketing Association
(To remove your name from mail & phone lists)
Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Telephone Preference Service, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Website: www.the-dma.org

Fraudulent Use of Your Checks

You are entitled to a free credit report if you are a victim of identity/credit card fraud, if you have been denied credit, if you receive welfare benefits or if you are unemployed.

Department of Motor Vehicles

Contact the state office of the Department of Motor Vwehicles to see if another license was issued in your name. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV's complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process.