Six Contacts for Reporting Identity Theft

Six Contacts for Reporting Identity Theft

Identity theft can have serious consequences for victims so it's important to act quickly when reporting identity theft. If you're wondering how to report identity theft – and to whom – the below six contacts should be at the top of your list.

1. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the clearinghouse for identity theft prevention and protection and serves as a primary contact for other law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of identity thieves. Contact the Consumer Response Center at: 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357).
2. If your mail has been stolen and it likely contained bank and credit card statements, tax information, or a newly issued credit card, contact your local postal inspector.
3. All credit card and bank account issuers should be notified with a request to either close the accounts or flag the accounts with an identity theft alert. Call and ask for the security or fraud department.
4. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your card has been lost or stolen. You can file a report online, or call toll free at 1-800-269-0271. If you continue to have difficulty resolving problems resulting from identity theft, SSA may issue you a new Social Security number.
5. For information on identity theft prevention and protection, and to network with other identity theft victims, contact the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse at: 619-298-3396.
6. Contact the police department and file a police report in the city that the crime occurred. So, if you live in Minnesota but your credit card was stolen in Seattle, you must file the report with the Seattle Police Department. Filing a report and getting a copy of it can provide proof of the crime in case you need to prove you were a victim to your creditors.