Here are some important tips on How to recognize theft victims, for shoppers and merchants.
How do I prove that I'm an identity theft victim?
Identity theft victims often find themselves having to prove that they're victims, not deadbeats trying to get out of paying bad debts. So how do you go about proving you didn't do something? Getting the right documents and getting them to the right people is key.
The Police Report:
The police report is an important document for providing proof of
the crime. Many creditors want a copy in order to absolve you of
the fraudulent debts. Send a copy to each of the three major
credit bureaus. They will block, or remove, the information you're
disputing from your credit reports. This may take up to 30 days.
The credit bureaus have the right to remove the block, or
reinstate the information, if they believe it was wrongly placed.
Because this initiative is voluntary,
except in a few states (see
Laws), it's important to also follow the dispute
procedures outlined in
How do I correct inaccurate information on my
credit reports? Contact the credit bureaus to find out
more about how this initiative works. If
you're having trouble getting a police report, see
What should I
do if the local police will not take a report from me?
The ID Theft
Affidavit: The FTC, in conjunction with
banks, credit grantors and consumer advocates, developed the
ID Theft Affidavit to help you close unauthorized accounts and
get rid of debts wrongfully attributed to your name. If you don't
have a police report or any paperwork from creditors, send the
completed ID Theft Affidavit to the three major credit bureaus.
They will use it to start the dispute investigation process. You
also can send the ID Theft Affidavit to creditors. Not all
companies accept the ID Theft Affidavit. They may require you to
use their forms instead. Check first.
Creditor Documentation: Getting documentation from a creditor may be difficult, but you should try. Creditors' policies on confidentiality and record keeping vary and may prevent you from getting the paperwork you need to prove you didn't make a transaction. On the upside, most victims can get accounts closed and debts dismissed by completing the creditor's fraud paperwork, or the ID Theft Affidavit, and including a copy of a police report. Insist on a letter from the creditor stating that they have closed the disputed accounts and have discharged you of the fraudulent debts. This letter is your best defense if errors reappear or your personal information gets re-circulated. This letter also is the best document to give credit bureaus and debt collectors if your police report and ID Theft Affidavit aren't enough to resolve your problems with them.
Source: FTC
The FTC works for the
consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business
practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help
consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get
free information on
consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or call
toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other
fraud-related complaints into
Consumer
Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of
civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
HealthCare
Finance - CareCredit offers "no interest" financing for medical
procedures from Cosmetic Dentistry to LASIK Surgery.
Unmanned
Aircraft Systems - AeroVironment, Inc. is the largest producer of
small UAS in the world today.
Baby
Bassinets - Find out what characterizes a good baby bassinet in this
FAQ with Arm's Reach.
Israel
Biblical Tours - This travel company has archaeologists and scholars
to guide you through the Holy Land.
Residential
Re-Roofing - "Learn some important facts about re-roofing your home in
this exclusive interview with Jason Vaughan, a 20 year roofing
veteran.
Pet
Stairs - PetStairz talks about foam pet products.
CD
Manufacturing - Music Manufacturing Services provides CD's for the
Music Industry all around the world.
Live
Longer... A Science? - David H. Murdock, Chairman of the Dole Food
Company says it is, and he created the luxurious California Health &
Longevity Institute to prove it.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Children's
Development Toys - "No matter how good a toy looks, the way it
performs under stress is often very different." Says Brian Gordon of
eBeanStalk.
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Auto
Insurance Quotes In this FAQ GMAC explains why you should shop around,
"Each company is different so you should always check several companies to
find the best rates."
Buying
Tickets Online "That game you want to go to is sold out (Superbowl,
World Series), your favorite artist is coming to town and you want great
seats, these are some of the reasons people buy through an online ticket
service or broker." Chico at Platinum Tickets answers faqs.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
