Consumer Protection News:
OCC Fighting Identity Theft

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:

• Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus 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. Once the alert is placed, you may order a free copy of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus. The special toll-free numbers for the fraud departments are: Equifax at (800) 525-6285, Experian at (888) 397-3742 and Trans Union at (800) 680-7289.
• 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.
• File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
• File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you. Call toll-free 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338). The FTC also maintains the U.S. government's central Web site for information about identity theft at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

"Phishing": In this new type of Internet piracy, thieves use phony e-mails and web sites to extract personal financial information, including account numbers and passwords, from unwary consumers. The good news is that consumers have the power to stop them.

• Read the OCC brochure to find how.

07/2007
FTC Seeks Comments on the Uses of Social Security Numbers in the Private Sector: Goal to Reduce ID Theft

12/2004
Bulletin on Final Rule: Related Identity Theft Definitions

04/2001
Advisory on Identity Theft and Pretext Calling

05/2000
Identity Theft Prevention, NCUA Letter to Credit Unions 00-CU-02

Other Federal Resources to Fight Identity Theft

• President's ID Task Force's Strategic Plan
• Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks (DVD), Department of the Treasury
• Identity Theft and Fraud (Web site), Department of Justice (DOJ)
• June 2005 Supplement: Putting an End to Account-Hijacking Identity Theft (Booklet) (PDF), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
• Putting an End to Account-Hijacking Identity Theft (Booklet), FDIC
• Consumer Alert: Identity Theft (Notice), FDIC
• You Can Fight Identity Theft (Web site), FDIC
• Identity Theft (booklet), Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
• Your National Resource for Identity Theft Information (Web site), Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• ID Theft Statistics (Web site), FTC
• Helpful Links from the FTC (Web site), FTC
• Identity Theft Testimony by the Federal Trade Commission (testimony), FTC
• Identity Theft Electronic Fact Sheet, Social Security Administration (SSA)
• Identity theft is America's fastest-growing crime (Web site), U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
• You Can Fight Identity Theft (booklet), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)

• Search USA.gov for information about Identity Theft
• Visit Consumer.Gov for federal information on consumer protection
• Google "Identity Theft"

You can reach one of the OCC Customer Assistance Specialists by calling our toll free number, 1-800-613-6743, Monday - Friday, 7:00a.m. to 7:00p.m., Central Time, or by sending an email to Customer.Assistance@occ.treas.gov.