Identity theft.. how to protect yourself????

[budnate]

Hey need some advice..Wife went into the kids school last night and came out and her Purse was boosted from the Jeep..long story short I think we turned off everything and froze the accounts..my worry is I have read a bunch on Identity theft...one person at the bank said we should go online and fill out some form for the BIG THREE credit shops this will slow them down supposedly..well we went there last night and the first thing they wanted to charge for is a credit check..not sure if this another bs thing to get a few bucks out of us...anyone been down this road and can offer some good advice this morning???

Thnx Bud.

[budnate]

Thnx Bill!

hey guys print these numbers and toss them in the safe for quick reference...hope you never need them.

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

call these people after you shut down all your stuff down this keeps them from going to town with your info.

[kenham]

Bud, you didn't say if you made a police report, I assume you did. Be sure to get a copy of the report. The usual scenario is the thief gets accounts at stores using your I.D., then you get the bills in the mail, that's why you need copies of the police report. I had a client in the same situation but no police report. The thief got several arrest warrants in my clients name. It caused a lot of unnecessary trouble without the report. Good luck, ken

[budnate]

did one over the phone last night..the Wife did it..I think they mail a copy to us?? I will follow up on that..what a pain in the a$$...guess things were going along to well and life needed to give us a kick in the rear.

Bud.