Your sensitive identification details must always be kept safe and secure. The Federal Trade Commission reports an average of 10 million Americans suffer from the effects of identity theft in a year. The fact is, most of the thieves have a close contact with the victim. This means that there is a great possibility that you may know the thief. What is important now is that you need to have all the right contacts and know the right steps to take when you have suspicions about the theft.
Upon having the feeling of compromise with your credit card, there are steps to follow. Proper communication must be established with the concerned companies in order to solve the problem as soon as possible. Communication with the right persons can help you track the thief and assist you with the best options available to avoid further compromise.
Credit Company
Suspicion can be reasonable. It is your right to order a credit report upon the evidence of identity theft. To be able to check on this, there are factors that you need to consider. This includes receiving calls and emails about loans or credit applications that you did not request for. Another factor is if your billing statements are no longer mailed to your address. In this case, the thief might have changed your billing or mailing address so as to not let you know about your credit card alterations. Contact your credit card company.
Credit Report Bureaus
There are three principal credit report bureaus where you can ask for assistance. You may contact one of them and that company has the responsibility to inform the other two of your credit compromise report. These companies will help you with a faster tracking of any credit card alterations and may inform you as soon as alterations follow the report, such as if someone opens a bank account or applies for a loan in your name using your credit card. The bureaus are the following:
TRANS UNION
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022 2000
(800) 888 4213 (request report)
(800) 680 7289 (report fraud)
www.transunion.com
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Aside from assistance with the faster victim chase and credit history alteration tracking, the Federal Trade Commission can service you with preventive measures that support the anti identity theft cause. You may ask for an Identity Theft Affidavit which is given approval to be used in filing for credit fraud with the principal bureaus indicated above.
You have to know your legal rights. However, along with your claim for these rights, the responsibility of a conscientious handling of your credit card and sensitive information is still in your hands. The world at large is a great basket of trouble. Many people can do anything, to the extent of damaging other people s name and credibility for the purpose of financial gains. When someone is in dire of money, you never know what he/she can do to acquire what is needed. Therefore, take heed and trust not one when it comes to your credit card and the sensitive information that you keep.
Author Resource:
This article has been provided by http://www.free-credit-reports.com , where you can compare credit report and identity theft protection services with this comprehensive chart of all credit report and credit score service providers.
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