Detect Identity Theft
Protection
ID theft can be devastating both financially and emotionally. Don't become a helpless victim of identity theft. Take steps to prevent it by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements. Detecting suspicious activity before it leads to ID theft is an important step to protecting yourself. Be sure to consistently check for the following:
- Bills that do not arrive as expected.
- Unexpected credit cards or account statements.
- Denials of credit for no apparent reason.
- Financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for transactions you did not make.
- Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
In addition, ID theft will be much easier to detect and prevent if you use the resources available to you as a consumer. These include:
Check your credit report: Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
- The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
- Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228 to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 10528, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Go to Defend Against Identity Theft to learn more about the steps you should take if you become the victim of ID Theft.
DETER. DETECT. DEFEND.
To learn more about identity theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft. Or request copies of ID theft resources by writing to:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, H-130
Washington, DC 20580