Fraud and ID Theft numbers and websites

Since I have all of them in front of me:

Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; PO Box 740241, Atlanta GA 30374-0241

Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com; PO Box 9532, Allen TX 75013

TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, PO Box 6790, Fullerton CA 92834-6790

For your free annual credit report: www.annualcreditreport.com or 877-322-8228
---- or ----

download the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta GA 30348-5281

You can ask for only the last 4 digits of your SSN to appear on the report. Do not contact the credit reporting companies directly.

For general info: www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)

And do let's all hope we never need any of this.

If you call all three credit agencies above and pay each a fee of $15.00 they can put a complete stop on any reports given to anyone for any reason without your approval. You have some code in order they know its really you approving the information given. Well worth the safety and no matter what a crook has of yours they can not get nor cause anyone else to be able to have credit approved without you!!! Cheap price for such safety.

My friend just found out she has been a victim of this fraud. She is a single woman on a fixed income and now facing years of confusion since someone has managed to get three credit cards issued in her name with charges well over $18,000.00 and thats all she has found out so far....What a mess. Ladies call the above agencies and safeguard yourselves.

Here is an inexpensive way to protect your identity. My famiy is signed up for it.

http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/pmmcguire

Identity theft is one of the highest crimes in America today....and once your identity has been stolen, statistics are that it will happen again.

Danita

[ January 28, 2006, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Danita ]

Do all of you use shredders?

YUP - this is VERY important! Shredding anything with your info on it!

d.

I shred anything with phone numbers, acct., SS, and any other vital info. I even shred those annoying CC offers I get weekly.