• Leave your Social Security card at home in a safe place
• Shred papers with personal information
• Reduce your credit card accounts, and carry only the cards you need
• Write checks with a permanent pen, and mail from a secure place
• Photocopy both sides of your credit cards and store safely

• Review balances and transactions often by phone or online
• Make sure every transaction on your credit card statements is accurate
• Take advantage of free credit reports (see sidebar) and watch for unusual activity
• Sign up with Experian, Transunion, and Equifax and stagger your requests to get a free credit report every four months or sign up for credit watch services which will report directly to you for a fee

• The FTC Theft Affidavit supplies proof that you didn’t authorize any accounts opened or debts run up by the identity thief
• New accounts need this FTC affidavit form to investigate the fraud and process your claim
• Call your existing accounts for instructions on disputing unauthorized charges as other forms may be needed
• Keep originals of the affidavit, and all supporting materials such as driver’s license or police report. Send copies only.
• Send quickly—many creditors request that you send the affidavit within two weeks

• 1-877-438-4338
• www.consumer.gov/idtheft
• www.ftc.gov

Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
Transunion: 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com

• Call your credit card companies immediately. Explain what happened, and ask where to send a copy of the police report.
• Call and report to the police. Make several copies of police report.
• Complete a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Theft Affidavit and FTC report (see contact information above to request these forms).
• Call your bank. They can place an alert on your Driver’s License number and Social Security Number, and freeze your account.
• Call fraud units of credit report agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion