Protect Number Affidavit For Free

Promptly reporting identity theft is one of the most important things you can do to limit the damage the thief can cause.

Finally, since an affidavit is an official statement, you'll need to declare whether you authorized anyone to use your information, whether you benefited in any way from the fraud, and whether you are willing to work with law enforcement if charges are brought against anyone found to have stolen your identity.

If you're not sure of the victim's identity, the FCRA allows you to ask for proof of identity, such as a copy of a government-issued identification. You also may ask for proof of a claim of identity theft, such as an Identity Theft Report issued by the FTC or a police report.

Mail Form 14039 to this address: Internal Revenue Service, Stop C2003, Fresno, CA 93888. You may also need to file a police report and a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on their website if you're a victim of tax return fraud.

Visit ftc.gov/idtheft to use a secure online version that you can print for your records. Before completing this form: 1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review the reports for signs of fraud.

You should fill out the FTC's online form if and whenever you learn that you've been a victim of identity theft. The IRS has its own identity theft affidavit to complete if your identity ? specifically your Social Security number ? is used to file a fraudulent federal tax return. It's known as IRS Form 14039.

Take precautions. The IRS wants you to submit Form 14039 when you believe someone has unauthorized access to your personal information. Use the "potential victim" box when unfamiliar entries on a credit report, unusual credit card charges, a lost purse or a stolen wallet suggest identity theft.

Finally, since an affidavit is an official statement, you'll need to declare whether you authorized anyone to use your information, whether you benefited in any way from the fraud, and whether you are willing to work with law enforcement if charges are brought against anyone found to have stolen your identity.