idhelper's blog
The answer lies with the big 3 credit reporting agencies. Your whole profile, which includes credit info, is inside their databases. Any new accounts, including ones resulting from fraud, will likely appear in them before you get any news from other sources.
Their phone numbers are as follows: Trans Union - 800-888-4213, Experian - 888-397-3742 and Equifax - 800-685-1111.
Contact your credit card issuers immediately by getting their phone numbers, along with your account numbers, from monthly billing statements. Get new cards with new numbers sent to you (if this is their policy). But don't stop there.
Most financial institutions now guarantee to make good any customer's funds lost though Internet identity fraud. Does yours? It's worth checking the policy of each company you do business with, and if you're with one without a guarantee consider whether you might be safer elsewhere.
We seem to live in the age of bombardment by unsolicited sales pitches. Mostly these are harmless, if very annoying, but occasionally can be a front by identity fraudsters after your personal info. To be on the safe side, simply refuse to converse with unsolicited callers, even if they claim to be from your bank, insurer etc.
Online shopping online can be fast and convenient, but it can also be a minefield for unwary. Anyone, anywhere, can set up a Website to accept payments. And once they have your money they can be near-impossible to trace. It's safest to do business with established, well-known companies such as Amazon.
Be alert to phishing, this is where identity fraudsters set up a website that mimics those of banks and other financial institutions such as Bank of America, Wachovia, or even Washington Mutual.
Identity fraudsters are clever folk who need only the smallest chunk of information about you to begin their evil schemes. Avoid giving identity thieves the chance by carefully disposing or shredding of ALL documents containing your personal details by shredding or burning them.
