Consumer Checklist for ID Theft Victims

Credit Reporting Agencies

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports. Contact one of the three (3) major credit agencies. (They will contact the other two (2)).
  Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  Experian: 1-888-397-3742
  TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Once you have placed a fraud alert on your credit file, you are entitled to order free copies of your credit reports, and if you ask, only the last 4 digits of your SSN will appear on the credit reports. REVIEW these credit reports. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, work with the credit agency to get it removed.

Bank and Credit Card Issuers

• Contact First Bank and Trust Company and your credit card issuers. Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. First Bank and Trust Company will work with you to open a new account and transfer legitimate activity to the new account.
• Sign an Affidavit of Forgery for each forged or fraudulent item.
• Contact Chex Systems, Inc. @ 1-800-328-5120.

Police Report

• File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
• Get the number of the police report and, if possible, a copy of the report.

Check Verification Companies

• To request that they notify the retailers who use their database not to accept your checks, call:
  TeleCheck @ 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188 and Certegy @ 1-800-437-5120
• To find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name, call: o SCAN @ 1-800-262-7771

Fraudulent items

• If the identity thief has made charges or debits to your accounts, or fraudulently opened accounts, ask First Bank and Trust Company or your credit card company for the forms to dispute those transactions.

Note: If you have fraud on your credit card or on your Check Card that you used it as a credit transaction (you signed a draft), then you can dispute the transaction through First Bank and Trust Company or your credit card company.
If you have fraud on your Check Card that was used as a debit transaction (you entered your PIN number), then you need to dispute that transaction through the merchant who accepted the transaction.

• For charges and debits on existing accounts, ask the representatives to send you the company's fraud dispute forms. If they do not have a form, write to the company at the address given for "billing inquiries", NOT the address for sending your payments.
• For new, unauthorized accounts, ask if the company accepts the ID Theft Affidavit. If not, ask the company to send you their fraud dispute form.
• Once you have resolved your identity theft dispute with the company, ask for a letter stating that the company has closed the disputed accounts and has discharged the fraudulent debts. Keep this letter as your proof
• Contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline @ 1-800-269-0271.
• If your driver's license number was compromised, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Federal Trade Commission

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can either file the complaint online @ www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-438-4338 (TTY: 1-866-653-4261).
• You can also visit the FTC Web site @ www.ftc.gov and click on the ID Theft link. You can read or download the brochure: "Take Charge: Fighting Bank Against Identity Theft", which gives detailed information on how to resolve identity theft, as well as sample dispute letters and affidavits.

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for informational purposes only. They are general guidelines provided to assist fraud victims in understanding some of the steps they may take to help protect their personal and financial interests. The suggestions are not all-inclusive and should not be considered nor interpreted as legal, accounting, or financial advice. You may wish to consult your attorney, accountant, or other advisor for specific advice, guidance, or recommendations concerning this topic.