http://www.teaneckshuls.org/SelectedPosts/CreditandConsumerAlerts.htm
From: crshulman@a..
Sent: May 9, 2005
Subject: [TeaneckShuls] How to Prevent Identity Theft
In an update to a previous emails, in order to prevent identity theft, you can
call Equifax at 800-525-6285 to have them add a security alert on the credit
files. Enter your SS # and confirmation info so that they add a Security Alert
to their credit files. They also alert Experian and TransUnion, and you will
receive free credit reports in the mail from all three agencies. (Alternatively,
you could call Experian at 888-397-3742 and they will alert Equifax and
TransUnion.) You can review the credit files and mail in any disputed info to
each of the credit agencies. Also, once the security alert is on file they have
to call you before giving out a credit report so people can't get credit cards
under your social security number. (See
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/fraudalerts.shtml for more details.)
However, this only works for 90 days. In order to get a 7-year block on
unauthorized credit, you need to mail a letter (separate for you and your
spouse) re "7-Year Fraud Victim Statement". It should state you believe you may
be a victim of fraud (if that's true) and must have your name (first, MI, last),
mailing address, SS#, DOB, tel. # (evening and day), and should have a xerox of
2 proofs of address. You also need to include a police report of the identity
theft (which you get by going into your local police station, writing out your
story on a police report and having the police sign the report.) The letter
should be mailed separately to:
Experian, PO Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013,
Trans Union, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834, and
Equifax, PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
Note that this info is not easily available on the credit agencies' web sites.
But they are apparently required to do this by law. See more info at
http://www.sfcu.org/id/sevenyear.html
Other sources of info
New Jersey security freeze law -
http://www.state.nj.us/identitytheft/
http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/002691.html
Identity theft generally
http://www.stateaction.org/issues/issue.cfm/issue/IdentityTheft.xml
http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/tech/identity.html
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2002-11-25-id-theft_x.htm