Northern Illinois University
Students' Legal Assistance
Division of Student Affairs

Identity Theft Victim's Action Plan

• 1

  Contact Local Law Enforcement

  Illinois law mandates that the police take your report of identity theft and start an investigation. (720 ILCS 5/16G-10)

  Department of Police and Public Safety

• 2

  Place a Fraud Alert

  Place a fraud alert on your credit report and review your credit reports.

  Sample Letter Requesting Fraud Alert

  ×Close

  Sample Letter Disputing Credit Report

  (Send registered mail, return receipt requested)

  Date

  Consumer Name
  Address
  City, State, Zip Code

  Attention: Complaint Department

  To:
  Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  Experian, P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
  TransUnion, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834

  Dear Sir or Madam:

  I am the victim of identity theft. I am writing to request that you put a fraud alert on my account and that you block the following fraudulent information in my file. I did not make or authorize these transactions:

  (For each disputed item include date of transaction, name of creditor, source of information, type of item and amount, e.g., 10/3, Visa, $300, Best Buy, DeKalb.)

  I am enclosing a copy of my credit report and have circled the items that are fraudulent.

  Enclosed is a copy of the police report regarding my identity theft as well as proof of my identity. Please let me know if you need any other information from me to block this information from my credit report.

  Sincerely,

  Consumer’s Name

  Enclosure: (List what you have enclosed.)

  • Identity theft affidavit.
  • Police report.
  • Proof of your identity, such as a photocopy of a government issued ID card.

  
  

  Fraud alerts can prevent the identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. Contact any of the three consumer reporting companies (CRC) to place an alert. There are two types of alerts:

  • Initial alert: This alert stays on for 90 days. Use it if you suspect you have been or are about to become a victim of identity theft. After putting an initial alert on your report, you are entitled to a free credit report from each CRC.
  • Extended alert: This alert remains on your credit report for seven years. Use it if you are a victim of identity theft. You are entitled to two free credit reports from each of the CRCs within 12 months of placing the alert. The CRCs will remove your name from marketing lists for prescreened credit offers for five years, unless you ask to be put back on the list.

   Contact information for placing a fraud alert:

  • Equifax, 800-525-6285
  • Experian, 888-397-3742
  • TransUnion, 800-680-7289
• 3

  Close Accounts

  Close accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with. Call and then write the security or fraud department for each company.

  For Fraud Involving ATM and Debit Cards

  Sample Dispute Letter to Creditor

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  Sample Dispute Letter to Creditor

  (Send registered mail, return receipt requested)

  Date

  Consumer Name
  Address
  City, State, Zip Code

  Re:
  Account # ______
  Name of Creditor
  Billing Inquiries
  Address

  To Whom It May Concern:

  I am writing to dispute a fraudulent (charge or debit) on my account on (date) in the amount of ($0.00). I am the victim of identity theft and did not make or authorize this (charge or debit). Please provide me with a copy of the credit application and other transaction records relating to the theft. Please remove the charge or reinstate the debit and give me credit for any charges assessed against my account as a result of this fraud. Please send me an accurate revised statement.

  Enclosed are copies of (describe the enclosed information) supporting my position and proving my identity. Please investigate and correct the fraud as soon as possible.

  Sincerely,

  Consumer’s Name

  Enclosures: (List what you have enclosed.)

  • Fraud affidavit.
  • Police report.
  • Proof of your identity, such as a photocopy of a government issued ID card.

  Note: The creditor must receive your letter within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you.

  • Credit card companies and banks must be informed in writing. Send your notification with supporting documents certified mail, return receipt requested.
  • You have 60 days from the date your bank statement is sent to you to report in writing money withdrawn without your permission.
  • This includes money skimmed, i.e., when the thief uses your account number and PIN without your card being lost or stolen.

  Your Responsibility When ATM or Debit Card Is Lost or Stolen

  • Loss reported within two business days, account holder maximum loss: $50.
  • Loss reported two to 60 days after unauthorized electronic fund transfer: up to $500.
  • Loss reported after 60 days: lose all money successfully taken out of your account.

  For Fraudulent Checks and Other "Paper" Transactions

  • Stop payment.
  • Close the account.
  • Ask the bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business to notify retailers who use their service:
    • Telecheck: 800-710-9898
    • Certegy, Inc.: 800-437-5120
  • To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call SCAN at 800-262-7771.
  • Call merchants who reject your checks. You can find out what information the thief is using. If the thief is using your driver’s license number, call the Secretary of State Fraudulent Review Unit to report fraud.

  For Fraudulent New Accounts

  Chex Systems, Inc. produces consumer reports about checking accounts.

  • Request a copy of the report and dispute all inaccuracies.
  • Call and write the banks where inquires were made or accounts opened.

  Chex Systems, Inc.
  7805 Hudson Road
  Suite 100
  Woodbury, MN 55125
  800-428-9623
  Fax: 602-659-2197
• 4

  File a Complaint

  File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online, by calling 877-438-4338, or writing to:

  ID Theft Clearinghouse, FTC
  900 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
  Washington, D.C. 10580

  To opt out of prescreened offers for credit and insurance, call 888-567-8688 (toll free).

  For Social Security misuse, call 800-269-0271 or fax 410-597-0118.

  SSA Fraud Notice
  P.O. Box 17768
  Baltimore, MD 21235

  Deter identity thieves: Shred all financial documents, including credit cards offers and credit card statements.