Get Don't Be A Victim : Protect Yourself From Identity ... - Raymond James

Dispute Credit Fraud With Your Lenders Call any affected companies where fraud has occurred. Contact your credit card company and cancel all affected cards. Place a fraud alert with all three credit bureaus. Dispute incorrect information on your credit report. Close any other new accounts opened in your name.

How long it takes to repair your credit score depends on what happened to it. If your credit score is low as a result of errors or identity theft, the process could take a couple of months. If you've had financial difficulties leading to late or missed payments, it could take much longer.

If someone uses your identifying information, such as your name, birth date, social insurance number, driver's licence or credit card number, to commit fraud or other crimes, you have been a victim of identity theft.

Warning signs of identity theft Bills for items you did not buy. Debt collection calls for accounts you did not open. Information on your credit report for accounts you did not open. Denials of loan applications. Mail stops coming to, or is missing from, your mailbox.

Place or lift a credit freeze Freeze or lift the freeze on your credit report for free by contacting each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax. Experian. TransUnion.

File an official identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Filing a report with the FTC gives you an official identity theft affidavit to help dispute charges and repair your credit. Head to IdentityTheft.gov to file a report. Contact your bank to change your account and card numbers.

The best way to do this is to go to the police with an "identity theft report" that you have already prepared. You can create an identity theft report through the FTC's website. Prepare a dispute letter to mail to Experian, Equifax & TransUnion requesting the fraudulent account(s) be removed from your credit reports.