4/24/2023
Identity theft in the United States is more than just paranoid headlines. At least 33% of citizens have been victims of this crime, 3 times more than in Germany or France. In addition, every year some 15 million Americans, usually through direct means, suffer data mining.
While credit card fraud is the most common, people most active on social networks are 30% more vulnerable to identity theft. While statistics abound, we will focus on what to do about identity theft in the USA.
What to do if your identity is stolen?
It is in our hands to protect our sensitive personal information. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), identity theft often occurs through cyber attacks such as malware, phishing emails and text message smishing.
When you are a victim of this crime, you should be calm and diligent. Among the fundamental steps, we recommend the following:
Notify the company or agency that gave you the documents
If you have lost an ID with sensitive data, the first thing to do is to notify the organization that issued it. If it is your bank account, contact the bank; if it was your credit card number, talk to the credit card company.
Do not delay this contact because the authorities may visit you because of a crime involving your ID.
Freeze your credit report
Next, you should contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to place a fraud alert or freeze your record. These anti-fraud measures are free and protect you:
- The alert usually lasts for one year (extension up to 7 years) and requires lenders to contact you to verify your identity.
- The 'freeze' on your file prevents third parties from reviewing it, but has exceptions (employers, homeowners and federal/government agencies).
Request copies of your credit reports
After placing a fraud alert, you can request a free copy of your file from each of the credit bureaus. It is essential that you review all 3 so that you don't lose detail of what they contain due to their differences. Verify that there is no transaction that should not be there.
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
You can visit the identitytheft.gov website, where they will guide you through the identity theft process. Each report is tailored to the information extracted, whether it's your PII, SSN or other data.
Although the Federal Trade Commission does not investigate these cases, it supports and facilitates these inquiries by acting as a clearinghouse for receiving files.
File a report with local authorities
Whenever possible, try to report the incident to local law enforcement if the identity thief shows any of your credentials during an arrest or traffic stop. It will also be important to notify banks and other businesses where you may be asked for identification. When making the report, take your license with you.
Obtain copies of documentation used for fraud or account opening
When you are a victim of identity theft in the United States, you should back up what is happening to you. A written request for copies of documents used to make transactions and open accounts in your name is also critical.
If it has to do with the IRS, you can fill out this form to request a copy or call them on their customer service phone number.
Contact the IRS
This step is to find out if the identity theft is related to your taxes. Someone who has your name, Social Security number and date of birth in their possession could make a fraudulent tax return in order to receive money.
Also, don't forget to heed any IRS alert notices about suspicious or fraudulent activity.
Alert your insurer and health care providers
Identity theft is usually linked to finances, but sometimes it can affect your health coverage. The best course of action is to contact your health insurance to find out if someone has used your information to receive care.
The identity thief may use your information to see a doctor for medication, emergency care, surgery or other services.
Change your passwords
There is a security rule that advises you to change your passwords from time to time (once a year). In fact, many American companies ask their employees to apply this measure.
The ideal are passwords of 12 characters or more, with uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters. You may consider a password manager to create and store them.
Multifactor verification is also a critical step in safeguarding your information. It can be through a unique code, fingerprint recognition or another method. Although it is not possible to change some logins, try to modify those that allow you to do so.
Identity theft in the United States affects children, young people and adults without distinction. With these measures, you have how to proceed quickly to avoid further damage.
Español: ¿Qué hacer ante un robo de identidad en Estados Unidos?