Identity theft is one of the top three consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission.
The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) annual look at its Consumer Sentinel Network database of complaints found that the agency received more than 3 million complaints overall in calendar year 2018, with 15% related to identity theft.
If you are a victim, take these steps immediately:
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Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, ask for a free copy of your credit report, and review those reports for evidence of accounts you didn't open. Contact each of the three credit bureaus separately.
Fraud unit contacts are:
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Close accounts—including share drafts/checks or ATM cards—that have been tampered with or used fraudulently. Contact all financial institutions and lenders, credit card issuers, utility companies, and the Social Security Administration to notify them of the fraud. Follow up each conversation with a letter.
If you believe you've been the victim of identity theft, reach out to your favorite branch and a member service representative will be happy to help you.