Identity Theft

Recently there has been a lot of news about lost bank tapes with federal employee account and personal information related to their government credit card accounts, including social security numbers. Just the kind of data identity thieves desire in order to steal your identity and literally steal your good name and credit. If you believe your government purchase credit card has been compromised Contact Bank One's Customer Service on 888-297-0781 or 847-488-4441 (collect 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week) to order a replacement card. A new card will be issued to you within 24 hours. Notify your Approving Official, designated Purchase Card Coordinator and Agency Program Coordinator. Also, refer to the purchase card manual you were initially given for additional information on what steps to take.

Employees who believe their government issued travel credit card has been compromised should also immediately contact Bank One's customer service on 888-297-0781 to cancel the card and order a replacement card. The bank assigns a new number to the replacement card. Secondly, notify your designated Agency/Organization Program Coordinator A/OPC) and your supervisor.

Unfortunately, identity theft has traveled on the back of our computer generation and the mass marketing of credit cards. To minimize identity theft to yourself and your family, there are some things you can do. First, make sure you examine all of your monthly statements for charges to determine if there are any that you cannot account for and report this to your credit card company. If you have been a victim of ID theft you should.....

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus (see end of article) to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge. There are two types of fraud alerts: an initial alert, and an extended alert.



• An initial alert stays on your credit report for at least 90 days. You may ask that an initial fraud alert be placed on your credit report if you suspect you have been, or are about to be, a victim of identity theft. An initial alert is appropriate if your wallet has been stolen or if you've been taken in by a "phishing" scam. When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you're entitled to one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.



• An extended alert stays on your credit report for seven years. You can have an extended alert placed on your credit report if you've been a victim of identity theft and you provide the consumer reporting company with an "identity theft report." When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you're entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.



• Active Duty Alert (1 year) If you are an active duty military consumer, you can add an Active Duty Alert to your credit report. An Active Duty Alert will remain on your report for one year.



• To place either of these alerts on your credit report, or to have them removed, you will be required to provide appropriate proof of your identity: that may include your SSN, name, address and other personal information requested by the consumer reporting company.



• When a business sees the alert on your credit report, they must verify your identity before issuing you credit. As part of this verification process, the business may try to contact you directly. This may cause some delays if you're trying to obtain credit. To compensate for possible delays, you may wish to include a cell phone number, where you can be reached easily, in your alert. Remember to keep all contact information in your alert current.



• Some of the Credit Bureaus also offer an ID Fraud Watch email service for a fee, where they will email you when they notice activity to your credit history.



2. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts. If the identity thief has made charges or debits on your accounts, or on fraudulently opened accounts, ask the company for the forms to dispute those transactions:



• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company doesn't have special forms, draft your own letter to dispute the fraudulent charges or debits. In either case, write to the company at the address given for "billing inquiries," NOT the address for sending your payments.



• For new unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit. If not, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If the company already has reported these accounts or debts on your credit report, dispute this fraudulent information. See Correcting Credit Reports to learn how.



• Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best proof if errors relating to this account reappear on your credit report or you are contacted again about the fraudulent debt.



3. File a police report. Then, get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General's office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.



4. File your complaint with the FTC https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03 . The FTC will not be able to directly address the theft, but by filing a complaint you assist the FTC maintain a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. In addition, it allows them to learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that they can better assist you.

For additional assistance or guidance, please contact the JMD Employee Assistance Program http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ps/eapbrochure.htm at (202)514-1846.

Credit Bureaus
Equifax:  1-800-525-6285;  www.equifax.com ;  P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241
Experian:  1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742);  www.experian.com ;  P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion:  1-800-680-7289;  www.transunion.com ;  Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Page Created February 4, 2005
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