If you think you are a victim of fraud:
- Contact all of your banks and credit card issuers immediately.
- Stop using your computer and get it professionally wiped.
- Ensure all security software is up-to-date.
- Change user names and passwords to all of your email, shopping, online banking and social networking accounts.
- Get new bank cards and account numbers.
- Place a ‘stop payment’ order on missing or stolen checks.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by calling all three major credit bureaus. Contact their fraud departments and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit file.
- Equifax — Call: 1.800.525.6285
- Experian — Call: 1.888.397.3742
- TransUnion — Call: 1.800.680.7289
- Contact the Social Security Administration if you suspect that your Social Security number has been compromised. Call the Social Security Administration hotline at 1.877.438.4338 or your local Social Security office.
- File a police or identity theft report.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1.877.382.4357, which maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement for investigations.