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Identity Theft

What to do if someone steals your ID

Identity Theft: What to Do if It Happens to You

A Publication of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Introduction

You apply for a credit card and are turned down because of a low credit score, yet you know that you’ve always paid your accounts on time.

A debt collector calls to demand payment on a six-month overdue account for a credit card you have never had.

You receive a credit card in the mail that you’ve never applied for.

What’s happening? You could be the victim of identity theft, where an imposter is using your personal information to obtain credit. Then when the thief does not pay the bills, the company itself or a debt collection company contacts you to demand payment. As a result, your credit report is likely to contain negative information about your bill-payment history, and your credit score has probably been lowered considerably, making it difficult or impossible to obtain new credit yourself.

This guide provides victims of identity theft with instructions on how to regain your financial health and who to contact for more help. You must act quickly and assertively to minimize the damage.

 

 

 

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What to do if

You apply for a credit card and are turned down because of a low credit score, yet you know that you’ve always paid your accounts on time. A debt collector calls to demand payment on a six-month overdue account for a credit card you have never had... Read More