| A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine | | | | Dealing with all these organizations requires |
| mentioned that one of his co-workers recently | | | | constant follow up. Make sure you keep a |
| recovered his stolen identity. I asked how | | | | record of who you talk to along with the |
| long the process took. "Only two years" he | | | | date, time and action taken. Many victims |
| replied. Compared to the six year nightmare | | | | received assurances from the various bureaus |
| suffered by one of my business associates, | | | | and agencies that the matter would be |
| "only" maybe appropriate. However like most | | | | resolved only to find the identity theft |
| victims of identity theft, my friend's | | | | remained and that were still liable. If you |
| co-worker probably thought in terms of | | | | do this yourself, be diligent. Constant |
| "when". As in, "When will I get my life | | | | follow up all the way to the end. |
| back?" | | | | |
| | | | This also requires knowing your rights. |
| Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non profit | | | | According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act of |
| consumer organization, reported that identity | | | | 1992, you must be told not only what's in |
| theft victims spend on average 175 hours | | | | your file but if that information is being |
| trying to recover their identity, often over | | | | used against you. The Federal Trade |
| a period of years. Factor in out of pocket | | | | Commission recently expanded the rights |
| expenses which usually total, usually over | | | | available to victims of identity theft |
| $1,500 according to the Federal Trade | | | | including your right to get negative |
| Commission and recovery gets painfully | | | | information due to fraud blocked from your |
| magnified. | | | | records. |
| | | | |
| What are the steps to identity restoration? | | | | Stay Away from "credit repair "companies". No |
| It starts with obtaining a police report. | | | | matter what they advertise, there's usually |
| You're going to need it for contacting the | | | | nothing they can do to help you with identity |
| many and I mean many different agencies and | | | | theft. Some of them even offer to help |
| organizations, including the Social Security | | | | youapply for credit under a new identity. |
| Administration, The Federal Trade Commission, | | | | Hello? When trying to eliminate fraud from |
| all of your financial institutions, the 3 | | | | your record you don't want to create more |
| major credit bureaus, the Passport Office, | | | | fraud! |
| The Department of Motor Vehicles, the Post | | | | |
| Office, and other law enforcement agencies as | | | | Advise the utility companies. Many identity |
| well as the Medical Information Bureau, since | | | | thieves open telephone accounts, purchase |
| identity thieves now target hospitals and | | | | cable television or establish credit with the |
| doctor's offices. All of these places must be | | | | gas & electric companies. It's not just |
| sent a fraud notification alert. | | | | bank accounts and credit cards. |
| | | | |
| It is vital that you contact other law | | | | If necessary get counseling. Identity theft |
| enforcement agencies. The databases of local | | | | can be a shattering experience not just |
| and federal authorities must be searched to | | | | economically but emotionally. Many victims |
| ensure no criminal activity exists on your | | | | feel ashamed and humiliated. It's not their |
| identity. | | | | fault of course but the feelings remain. A |
| | | | network of support groups and counselors |
| Concerning your financial institutions, get | | | | exists if you need it. |
| them to cancel your credit cards and close | | | | |
| your bank accounts. Find out from your bank | | | | The road back from identity theft can take |
| about any suspicious activity, such as | | | | time, money, and cause much stress and pain . |
| accounts tampered with or opened | | | | But with follow up, support and belief that |
| fraudulently. Reopen new bank accounts with | | | | the nightmare will end...the nightmare WILL |
| password verification. | | | | end. |
| | | | |
| When contacting the credit bureaus make sure | | | | Don't go it alone. Get free information |
| your credit report reflects the identity | | | | concerning identity theft protection, 24/7 |
| theft and gets flagged with a fraud alert. | | | | monitoring and fast restoration. |