Credit 101

Things to know about ID Theft:

Spot Fraudulent Activity Early.
Check your credit report for unauthorized activity.

Dispute Errors:
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, all disputes that cannot be verified must be removed from your credit report.

Get Peace of Mind:
Know your credit report is accurate.

Did you know?

• The Federal Trade Commission lists identity theft as the fastest-growing white-collar crime in America.
• More than 11 million people were victimized by identity theft last year.
• On average, identity thieves stole nearly $7,000 per victim in 2003.

If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:

• Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.
  
• Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
  
• File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
  
• File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.