Protecting identity

[Staraglimmer]

Do I know that my personal info has been compromised. Who do I contact? Please walk me through this. I'm not in a good place right now. I cant seem to figure out what I should do.....probably bc I have not slept in 3 days. TIA.


-Stephanie
Mommy to Hailey Michelle 4/08
& a new addition due 7/1/12

[TwinFoxes]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I'd contact my CC companies, and the three credit bureaus first. And your banks. Here's a link that might help you. :hug:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

[Pennylane]

Just read your other post....so sorry you and your family are going through this! First, contact your bank and your credit card companies. Ask your branch manager how to put a fraud alert on your credit report. This when alert you and any companies that are investing your credit that something has been compromised.

Good luck,

Ann

[infomama]

I know this is horrible but you need to get some sleep.

Call the big three credit reporting agencies and place fraud alerts on your and DH's SSN. Here are the numbers http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//consumers/defend.html
Get copies of your credit reports and review them so you know what's going on now.

If they got any credit cards, cancel them and advise your bank.

If you stored passwords in your computer start changing them now.

The article above has some really good information.

[Jenny_A]

A friend of mine was robbed and she started using Life Lock. She swears by them now. I don't know all of the details but I'm sure their website would tell you more.

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this. You're post was a wakeup call for me and I plan to backup my pictures ASAP. Try to get some sleep!

[echoesofspring]

One thing you could do is put a credit freeze on your credit reports. It's free or very inexpensive, I think it took me about an hour to work through the 3 reporting agencies. It will prevent anyone from trying to open new credit cards, take out a loan, etc. in your name. It is a restrictive however, you can still use your existing credit cards, but wouldn't be able to open any new accounts, and can interfere with other situations where someone needs to check your credit (rental, sometimes a new job, etc). Although I did have to do some background checks for a job last year and worried if it was going to be a problem, it wasn't.

We did it a couple years ago, and it's given me such piece of mind. If you need/want to unfreeze it down the road it's easy enough. We did unfreeze/refreeze for a refi a year or two later, but the whole process was pretty easy.

http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html

[infomama]

Forgot to mention Debix. I have used them a few years ago when some of my personal information may have been comprimised and they did a great job for me.
http://www.debix.com/prevent_identity_theft.php