Steps to Take When Personal Information Is Lost or Stolen
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Steps to Take When Personal Information Is Lost or Stolen
If you believe your personal information has been lost or stolen, don't panic. There are concrete things you can do to thwart identity theft. Drop what you are doing, and take care of the following three key items.
1) Immediately check your accounts for signs of identity theft. You may want to contact your creditors to let them know that you suspect fraud. Don't rush to close accounts that haven't been used illegally. Closing accounts can have a negative impact on your credit scores. Only request closure for accounts that you know have been taken over by an identity thief.
2) Notify Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (the big three credit reporting agencies) that your personal information has been lost or stolen and request that each places a fraud alert on your account. Fraud alerts let creditors know that you may have been a victim of identity theft and that they should use extra care when opening new accounts in your name.
3) Notify other agencies that have issued you identification (a driver's license, for example) of the situation, and follow the agency's steps for reporting and requesting a replacement card. Finally, you should monitor your credit report and accounts for signs of fraudulent activity on an ongoing basis.
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