Identity Theft & Security Freeze

• Freeze your credit files with the three major credit bureaus so no one can access them without your permission. For further information, see the Security Freeze information below.
• Never give bank or credit card information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know the business to be reputable.
• Never respond to e-mail or pop-up messages asking you to confirm or verify account information, even if it looks official. Instead, call the customer service number listed on the company’s billing statement to check an account.
• Remove extra information from your checks. Information like your Social Security number and date of birth should be guarded. If a merchant requires them, consider paying with cash or credit card, or doing business elsewhere.
• Shred or destroy any documents that contain personal identifying information before you dispose of them. Always shred prescriptions, receipts, bank deposit slips, pay stubs, expired credit cards, insurance policies and credit card applications.
• Opt out of pre-screened credit card offers by calling (888) 5-OPTOUT (567-8688). This will not prevent you from getting a loan or credit card.
• Review your bank and credit card statements as soon as you get them.
• Order a copy of your credit report once a year and check it carefully for fraudulent accounts. You are entitled to a free copy once every 12 months.
• Read and understand privacy and security policies before providing any personal information on Internet sites. Shop online only if the site is secure.
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts and avoid using easily available information such as your mother’s maiden name.
• Secure personal information in your home.

1. Keep a record of whom you call and when. It is very important to keep good notes of all conversations and records of all correspondence with your financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, including a log of the names, dates and phone numbers of people you contacted. You also should confirm the information in writing. Sending your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, provides you with a record of your correspondence.
2. Report the theft of your identity to your local law enforcement agency. Ask for a copy of the police report, and to have your case entered into the NCIC Identity Theft File. Credit card companies and financial institutions may require you to show a copy of this report to verify the crime. Keep the phone number of your investigator and provide it to creditors and others who require verification of your case.
3. Contact the three major credit bureaus. Ask that they put a security freeze or a fraud alert on your account and send you a free credit report. A security freeze will stop someone else getting new credit in your name. See the Security Freeze information below for detailed instructions on requesting a freeze of your credit files. A fraud alert is a special message you can have placed on your credit report. When a credit issuer checks your credit rating, the alert indicates that there may be fraudulent activity on your account. While a fraud alert may slow down issuing new credit, it does not stop it.
   Major Credit Bureaus:
   Equifax – P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 – (800) 525-6285 – http://www.equifax.com/home/en_us
   Experian – P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013 – (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) – http://www.experian.com/
   TransUnion – Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000 – (800) 680-7289 – http://www.transunion.com/
4. Complete an Identity Theft Passport Application and return it to the law enforcement agency you reported the crime to in Step 2. Remember to include a copy of your driver’s license. Law enforcement will send the completed form to the Montana Identity Theft Passport Program.
5. Report the crime to the Federal Trade Commission and complete an FTC ID Theft Affidavit. Don’t mail it to the FTC – see Step 7.
   Federal Trade Commission – (877) IDTHEFT (438-4338) or TTY: (866) 653-4261 – FTC Consumer Information – Identity Theft
6. Mail copies of the following to all three credit bureaus and to all creditors and collection agencies showing or collecting the fraudulent charges:
   • the FTC ID Theft Affidavit
   • the police report
   • your Identity Theft Passport (if you have one)
   • a letter disputing the fraudulent charges

   The dispute letter must do all of the following:

   • identify you
   • indicate which accounts are disputed
   • affirmatively state that you had nothing to do with the charges on the accounts
   • request that the accounts be blocked from your credit report

   Sample dispute letters are available for:

   • existing credit accounts
   • credit bureaus
7. Notify all financial institutions you have an account with that you are a victim of identity theft. Change your account numbers and passwords. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the billing inquiries and security departments of the appropriate creditors or financial institutions. Close these accounts. Use passwords – not your mother’s maiden name or other personal information that may have been stolen – on any new accounts opened. Confirm your contact in writing. Ask that old accounts be processed as “account closed at consumer’s request,” not “card lost or stolen.” When the latter is reported to credit bureaus, it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss. Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills and immediately report any new fraudulent activity to credit grantors.
8. Request a copy of your state and federal criminal history record.  Applications are available online:
   Montana Criminal History Record
   FBI Criminal History Record
9. Check your credit report with all three credit bureaus at least every three months until the matter is resolved. If you have properly placed a fraud alert on your accounts (see Step 3), you should be entitled to two additional free credit reports a year from each credit bureau for the duration of the fraud alert.
10. Pay any portion of a bill that is legitimate, but DO NOT pay charges you are disputing. Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal action should be taken against you as a result of identity theft. If any merchant, financial institution or collection agency suggests otherwise, simply restate your willingness to cooperate, but don’t allow yourself to be coerced into paying fraudulent bills. Report such attempts to the Office of Consumer Protection or the FTC immediately.

To open a new credit account, take out a new loan or allow a background check, consumers need to temporarily lift the security freeze on their credit files. It can be lifted for a specific period of time or for a specific creditor.

• Contact each of the credit bureaus by phone and use your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
• Specify whether you want to temporarily lift the freeze for a specific date range or creditor.

The credit bureaus must lift a freeze no later than three business days after receiving your request.

When a file is protected by a security freeze, a creditor who requests that file will get a message or a code indicating that the file is frozen. However, when you have a security freeze on your credit file, certain entities can still access it.

• Your report can still be released to your existing creditors or to collection agencies acting on their behalf. They can use it to review or collect on your account.
• Other creditors may also use your information to make offers of credit, unless you opt out of receiving such offers.
• Government agencies may access your report for collecting child support payments or taxes, or for investigating Medicaid fraud. Government agencies may also access it in response to a court or administrative order, a subpoena or a search warrant.