Safety Tips
Sensitive information in the wrong hands can lead to several kinds of identity fraud – credit card, bank, and finance, government documents (getting a driver’s license in the victim’s name; using a social security number), getting a job pretending to be the victim, renting services, etc. An imposer is bad news and if you think you are a victim of identity theft/ fraud, you must get help immediately.
File a police report.
Immediately notify creditors.
Dispute unauthorized transactions and doing so will help restore your name and credit report.
Set up a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent the thief from opening further accounts
Close the accounts that have been tampered with
In addition, take a look at the links below for detailed information about identity theft and fraud.
The Federal Trade Commission
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
The US Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft site
The National Identity Theft information and help website for the UK.
Guide for Identity Theft Victims
US Info– Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act 2003 –
UK Info– Personal data protected by Data Protection 1998
Protection against fraud by Fraud Act 2006
Canada Info– Section 403 of the Criminal Code of Canada discusses fraud. Each province and territory also has its privacy law for the use and storage of personal data.
Australia Info– At the federal level, the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery & Related Offences) Act 2000 discusses fraud. Each state and territory also has its privacy laws.