Best practices for identity protection

  • Monitor Your Accounts

    We recommend that you regularly review statements from your accounts and periodically obtain your credit report from one or more of the national credit reporting companies. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com, by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228, or by mailing an Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at www.annualcreditreport.com) to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA, 30348-5281. You may also purchase a copy of your credit report by contacting one or more of the three national credit reporting agencies listed below.

     

    Equifax

    P.O. Box 740241

    Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

    1-866-349-5191

    www.equifax.com

    Experian®

    P.O. Box 2002

    Allen, TX 75013-9701

    1-866-200-6020

    www.experian.com

    TransUnion®

    P.O. Box 1000

    Chester, PA 19016-1000

    1-800-888-4213

    www.transunion.com

     

    You should remain vigilant for incidents of fraud or identity theft by reviewing account statements and monitoring free credit reports. When you receive your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for accounts or creditor inquiries that you did not initiate or do not recognize. Look for information, such as home address and Social Security number, that is not accurate. If you see anything you do not understand, call the credit reporting agency at the telephone number on the report.

    You have rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which governs the collection and use of information about you by consumer reporting agencies. For more information about your rights under the FCRA, please visit www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf or www.ftc.gov.

     

    Credit Freeze

    You have the right to put a security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, on your credit file, so that no new credit can be opened in your name without the use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is issued to you when you initiate a freeze. A credit freeze is designed to prevent potential credit grantors from accessing your credit report without your consent. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to access your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. Therefore, using a credit freeze may delay your ability to obtain credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. Should you wish to place a credit freeze, please contact all three major consumer reporting agencies listed below.

     

    Equifax

    P.O. Box 105788

    Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

    1-888-298-0045

    www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services

    Experian®

    P.O. Box 9554

    Allen, TX 75013-9554

    1-888-397-3742

    www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

    TransUnion®

    P.O. Box 160

    Woodlyn, PA 19094

    1-800-916-8800

    www.transunion.com/credit-freeze

     

    You must separately place a credit freeze on your credit file at each credit reporting agency. The following information should be included when requesting a credit freeze:

    ●     Full name, with middle initial and any suffixes;

    ●     Social Security number;

    ●     Date of birth (month, day, and year);

    ●     Current address and previous addresses for the past five (5) years;

    ●     Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;

    ●     Other personal information as required by the applicable credit reporting agency.

    If you request a credit freeze online or by phone, then the credit reporting agencies have one business day after receiving your request to place a credit freeze on your credit file report. If you request a lift of the credit freeze online or by phone, then the credit reporting agency must lift the freeze within one hour. If you request a credit freeze or lift of a credit freeze by mail, then the credit agency must place or lift the credit freeze no later than three business days after getting your request.

     

    Fraud Alerts

    You also have the right to place an initial or extended fraud alert on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert lasts one year and is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the agencies listed below. The agency you contact will then contact the other two credit agencies.

     

    Equifax®                                                                                       

    P.O. Box 105069

    Atlanta, GA 30348-5069

    1-800-525-6285

    www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-fraud-alerts/

    Experian®

    P.O. Box 9554

    Allen, TX 75013-9554

    1-888-397-3742

    www.experian.com/fraud/center.html

    TransUnion®

    P.O. Box 2000

    Chester, PA 19016-2000

    1-800-680-7289

    www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts

     

    Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General Offices

    If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency or state Attorney General and file a police report; this notice was not delayed by law enforcement. Get a copy of the report; many creditors want the information it contains to alleviate you of the fraudulent debts. You also should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the contact information below. Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations.

     

    You may also contact the FTC at Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/, 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), to learn more about identity theft and the steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent such activity.

    Rhode Island residents may contact the Office of the Attorney General, 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02930,

    (401) 274-4400.