FAQs

What is identity theft?
What should I do if my personal information or identification documents have been stolen?
What kind of information is in my credit report?
How often should I check my credit report?
I have inaccurate information on my credit report. What can I do?
I received a credit report monitoring alert. Does this mean that my identity has been compromised?
What should I look for on a credit report to indicate identity theft?
What if my bank won't correct the fraud?
Why does my credit score matter?
How can I change my credit score?
Will it change my score to get a copy of my own credit report?
Can I get a free copy of my credit report?

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is not new, but the popularity of the internet has made it one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. Any time someone uses your personal information — you name, address, Social Security Number (SSN), bank or credit card account number, medical records or driver's license information — without your knowledge with the intent to commit fraud or other crimes, that's identity theft. Basically, a criminal pretends to be you to take your money or commit other crimes in your name.

What Should I Do If My Personal Information or Identification Documents Have Been Stolen?

It is more important than ever to safeguard your personal information. Not only can criminals use your information to steal your identity, they can sell or trade your information on the global black market where it is used over and over again.

If any of your important documents or information has been stolen, act quickly to minimize the potential damage:

Close credit card or bank accounts immediately.
Place strong passwords on new accounts you open. Avoid using passwords that others can find out like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or the last four digits of your SSN or phone number. Also, do not use a series of consecutive numbers or a common word. The best passwords contain a combination of non-consecutive letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and symbols. Bank PIN numbers should be a non-consecutive series of digits that you know but others wouldn't guess.
If your Social Security Number has been compromised call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. A fraud alert can prevent an identity thief from opening new accounts in your name. It is only necessary to place a fraud alert at one of the bureaus since the alert will be shared among all of them.
If your driver's license was stolen contact the issuing state agency to place fraud flags on your record and to get a replacement.
If your medical insurance card has been stolen, contact your insurance company immediately. Medical insurance fraud is one of the most insidious forms of identity theft.
If you're an active member of Identity Force, call Chartis insurance for restoration services at 1-866-434-3572. Identify yourself as an Identity Force Member and give them our Master Policy # 916321.

What Kind of Information Is In My Credit Report?

A credit report is a snapshot in time of who you are, what debts you owe and other information to help banks and other lenders assess if you are a good credit risk. It includes your name, address, marital status, your date of birth, number of dependents, previous address, and Social Security number. It also lists the accounts you currently have open, your credit history, your employment history, civil suits and judgments, bankruptcy records and other legal proceedings recorded by a court. It is an extremely important document because the information it contains can dictate whether you might be turned down for a loan, insurance or even a job.

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumer reporting agencies may keep correct and verifiable information in your file for seven years, and ten years in the case of bankruptcy. Here are a few exceptions: if you apply for a job which pays more than $75,000 per year, the reporting agency may provide all the information it has, including items over seven years old. Information reported because of an application for more than $50,000 worth of credit or life insurance has no time limitation; information concerning lawsuits or judgments against you can be retained in your file for seven years or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer.

How Often Should I Check My Credit Report?

Because your credit report is only a snapshot of your financial history at the time of the request, you shouldn't assume that an accurate credit report last year means that you're safe from identity theft today. In order to keep safe, you need to check your report regularly.

How often you check it is up to you and depends on several factors:

Are you planning to make a major purchase?
Are you applying for more credit?
Has your credit report contained inaccuracies in the past?
Do you want to improve your credit score?
Have you been a victim of identity theft?
Are you concerned with being a victim of identity theft?

I Have Inaccurate Information On My Credit Report. What Can I Do?

You need to dispute the inaccurate information directly with the credit bureaus. You can do this either by mail, phone or online. The credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate your dispute. Once the investigation is complete, the credit bureaus will send you a letter with their findings. If they have made any revisions to your credit report, they will send you a copy of your revised report.

I Received a Credit Report Monitoring Alert. Does This Mean That My Identity Has Been Compromised?

Not necessarily. An alert simply means that a change has been made to your credit report and you should check it out immediately to make sure it's legitimate. Identity Force monitors the 12 most significant warning signs - or "triggers" — that fraud may be taking place. These triggers include a change of address or phone numbers, opening a new account, or an account being placed in collections. If an unauthorized change has been made to your credit report while you are a member of Identity Force, speak to one of our Fraud Resolution Specialists — they'll advise you what to do.

What Should I Look For On a Credit Report to Indicate Identity Theft?

Accuracy is key. Make sure all the information in your reports is correct and up to date. If any of the personal information in your reports is wrong (i.e., addresses, SSN, name — including variations like Jr. and Sr. — and employers) it could be a sign of identity theft. Other warning signs include any accounts you didn't open or any debts you don't recognize on legitimate accounts. Also, check the reports for inquiries from creditors you don't know about. Banks and credit card companies will look at your credit reports before opening an account, so an inquiry could be a sign that someone is trying to open accounts in your name. However, banks and credit card companies often inquire about consumers' creditworthiness to target their marketing efforts, so it's possible that an inquiry is not related to identity theft. If you find inaccuracies or suspicious activity on your credit reports, notify the credit bureau as soon as possible by telephone and in writing. If you are a member of Identity Force, speak to our Fraud Resolution Specialists right away.

What If My Bank Won't Correct the Fraud?

Unfortunately, dealing with bank fraud can be a confusing procedure to handle on your own. Different laws determine what course of action you need to take based on the type of bank fraud that has occurred. For example, state laws protect you if a criminal commits fraud using paper documents, like stolen or counterfeit checks. But federal laws apply if a criminal commits fraud through an electronic funds transfer. However, many transactions that appear to be processed electronically are still considered paper transactions. If you are uncertain what type of transaction a criminal used to commit the fraud in your case, ask the financial institution that processed the transaction.

When you know which type of transaction was used to commit the fraud (and your bank refuses to help you resolve the problem) contact the government agency with the appropriate jurisdiction. We have listed the most common agencies below. If you're not sure which of these agencies has jurisdiction in your case, ask your bank.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) - www.fdic.gov
The FDIC supervises state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System and insures deposits at banks and savings and loans. Call the FDIC Consumer Call Center at 1-800-934-3342; or write: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20429.

Federal Reserve System (Fed) - www.federalreserve.gov
The Fed supervises state-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Call: 202-452-3693; or write: Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Mail Stop 801, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC 20551; or contact the Federal Reserve Bank in your area. The 12 Reserve Banks are located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco.

National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) - www.ncua.gov
The NCUA charters and supervises federal credit unions and insures deposits at federal credit unions and many state credit unions. Call: 703-518-6360; or write: Compliance Officer, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) - www.occ.treas.gov
The OCC charters and supervises national banks. If the word "national" appears in the name of a bank, or the initials "N.A." follow its name, the OCC oversees its operations. Call: 1-800-613-6743 (business days 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST); fax: 713-336-4301; write: Customer Assistance Group, 1301 McKinney Street, Suite 3710, Houston, TX 77010.

Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
The OTS is the primary regulator of all federal, and many state-chartered, thrift institutions, which include savings banks and savings and loan institutions. Call: 202-906-6000; or write: Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20552.

Why Does My Credit Score Matter?

Anytime you apply for a loan or a credit card, lenders look at your credit score to determine if you are a good risk. It's not the only factor they look at, but it's possible that if your score doesn't meet their minimum requirements, you will be denied. Even if you have a decent credit score, it's in your best interest to get it as high as possible. Higher scores mean lenders will give you better interest rates which can save you big money on car or home loans.

How Can I Change My Credit Score?

The biggest factor in getting a low credit score — late payments. If you see late payments incorrectly listed in your credit report, get them changed and it should improve your score. However, if you have a lot of late payments in your report, changing one of them might not make a huge difference. The type, size and age of your accounts also factor into your credit score, so making positive changes — like paying down credit card debt — can also help your score.

Will It Change My Score to Get a Copy of My Own Credit Report?

No. When you request a copy of your own credit report, it is called a "soft inquiry". While it is noted in your file, it does not affect your credit score.

Can I Get a Free Copy of My Credit Report?

By law under the FACT ACT you are entitled to one FREE credit a year from each of the three credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. You can request your free report by mail or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.

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