MSNBC - The secret list of ID theft victim

An interesting article on ID theft, and how agencies like the Social Security Administration do not report known fraud to victims.

Even credit reporting groups like EquiFax and TransUnion can see all the activity related to a given SSN, but the consumer cannot.

There is a Your ID's been stolen, now what? section -- but it's not linkable. So without prior permission from the website, here is the content of that section:

MSNBC.com FACT FILE
Your ID's been stolen. Now what?

Step 1: Protect your finances
Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus.

Get a copy of your credit report, which is free to ID theft victims. Ask that your file be flagged with a "fraud alert tag" and a "victim's statement." That will limit the thief’s ability to open new credit accounts, as new creditors will call you before granting credit, generally. Insist, in writing, that the fraud alert remain in place for seven years, the maximum, according to PrivacyRights.org.

Credit bureaus
Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com

Experian
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.tuc.com

Step 2: File a police report
You will need a police report to dispute unauthorized charges and for any insurance claims. Be persistent; your local police department may suggest that this isn’t necessary, because they don’t want the paperwork hassle. Also, fill out an online ID Theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-ID-THEFT.

That enters your case in the FTC’s “Consumer Sentinel” database, a nationwide list of ID theft cases which can be used by law enforcement officers to find patterns and catch criminals.

Step 3: Close all compromised accounts
The list may be wider than you realize. This includes accounts with banks, credit card companies and other lenders, and phone companies, utilities, ISPs, and other service providers. Dispute all unauthorized charges – The FTC offers a sample dispute letter on its Web site. Disputes may require a sworn statement and a police report. The FTC also offers a form affidavit which can be used for the sworn statement at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf .


More help

- More detailed 17-step plan to follow if your ID is stolen www.privacyrights.org/identity.htm

- “When bad things happen to your good name” – FTC document full of sample dispute letters and other recovery procedures. www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm

- U.S. Department of Justice ID Theft kit www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

- Identity Theft Resource Center www.idtheftcenter.org

- ID theft laws vary by state – here’s a list of state laws www.consumer.gov/idtheft/federallaws.html#statelaws

- Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice ID Theft page www.cj.msu.edu/~outreach/identity