You have a mess of phone calls you need to make, right away. I had something similar happen once, and it took over a year to fix. The faster you get on it, get reports made, get police reports, etc, the faster it will be over. Don't be shy about getting a police report! When you have creditors knocking on your door and calling you for debts months down the road that are
not yours, having a police report to show them really helps.
These are steps to take (quoting from Clark Howard's website), do them now:
If someone is using your identity and cashing your checks or credit cards, you should:
Report the situation immediately to your bank or credit card company. You may not have monetary liability because forgery and/or fraud is involved, but you will want the companies to be aware of the problem, as this is something that could affect your credit. In addition, follow these instructions to fully protect yourself:
a) Contact all three credit bureaus and issue a fraud alert. Check your credit report six months later and look for items you don't recognize.
b) Provide a copy of your driver's license to each agency's fraud unit in order to register an affidavit.
c) Contact the proper authorities in writing, via certified receipt request.
d) Inform your local police department, Social Security Administration and all creditors with whom you have accounts.
Credit bureaus:
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
Transunion: 800-680-7289
SSA Fraud Hotline: 800-269-0271
If a thief steals your identity and begins racking up debt:
A) Contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting agencies. Request that your account be flagged and add a victim's statement saying, "MY ID has been used to fraudulently apply for credit. Call me at this number to verify all applications." Find out how long the fraud alert will be posted and how to extend it if you need to. Check your credit report and look for items you don't recognize.
B) Contact your credit card companies and financial institutions to report the fraud. Get new cards, have old accounts colsed with a memo stating, "account closed at customer's request." Follow up in writing.
C) Call the police and get the crime on record, then get a copy of the police report. Keep a log of all conversations including date, name, phone number, and the information provided.
D) Notify the Federal Trade Commission, which keeps a database of identity thefts. Phone: (888) FTC-HELP; Address: FTC, CRC-40, Washington D.C. 20580.
E) Notify you bank and if necessary, cancel checking and savings accounts and get new account numbers. Request a password that may be used in every transaction. Get a new ATM card, account number and password. Don't use your SS # or birthdate as a password.
F) Don't pay any bill or part of a bill resulting from identity theft.
And now my bank account is REALLY overdrawn, and not all of the charges are mine. I'm not looking for pity, I'm looking for advice from those skilled in the Internet / legalese / financial matters. I've got over $200 in charges coming from New Hampshire... I've never even BEEN to New Hampshire.
What should I do?
I already had my cards cancelled... How does this work? Do I delete my Facebook (i.e. try to scrape myself off the face of the internet)? Do I disappear and change my name or be slammed with deep debt from which I will never recover?
Suggestions?
