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Then, get a copy of the police report or at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a “Miscellaneous Incidents” report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police. You also can check with your state Attorney General’s office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.
4 . File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission .
By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims’ complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.
You can file a complaint with the FTC by calling the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
How Long Can the Effects of Identity Theft Last?
It’s tough to predict how long the effects of identity theft may linger because it depends on many factors, such as the type of theft, whether the thief sold or passed your information on to other thieves, whether the thief is caught, and problems related to correcting your credit report.
If you’re a victim, you should monitor your credit reports and other financial records for several months after you discover the crime. You should review your credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft. Also, don’t delay in correcting your records and
Stay Alert for Identity Theft