A friend called me today desperate for help. She had her debit card number stolen and over $10,000 had been removed from her checking and savings account. After calling her bank and filing a police report, she called me to find out what else could be done to prevent and limit the damage that can be caused by fraud.
In her particular situation, an additional card reader had been attached to an ATM or other credit card scanning device to pick up the account number of her card. The thieves then created an actual card that could be used at stores, restaurants, ATM’s, etc. This practice has been around for some time and should remind us all to be more aware and think about the location and machine that we use to scan any bank card.
Once she realized her account had been compromised, she wanted to make sure that her credit and identity were not vulnerable. The first step is to alert people that can help you, and then to monitor your credit carefully over the next several years. She was diligent and filed a local police report, but the FBI may also be interested in hearing about your situation, especially depending on the dollar amount. You can find out more about identity theft by visiting this FBI website: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/cyber/identity_theft .
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, here are some important contact numbers that can help you respond:
Federal Trade Commission:
Identity Theft Hotline: 877 ID THEFT (877) 438-4338
You can also put an alert on your credit by contacting the three credit bureaus listed below:
Experian Fraud Division: (888) 397 3742
Equifax Fraud Division: (800) 525 6285
TransUnion Fraud Division: (800) 680 7289
This blog is for informational purposes and is the opinion of the writer. In financial matters always solicit professional advice and legal counsel if necessary.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment