Recommended Steps to Help Protect Your Information 

Review credit reports. Remain vigilant by reviewing account statements and monitoring credit reports. Under federal law, individuals also are entitled every 12 months to one free copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies. To obtain a free annual credit report, go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Callers may wish to stagger their requests so that they receive a free report by one of the three credit bureaus every four months. 

Individuals have the right to file a police report if they experience identity fraud. To file a crime report or incident report with law enforcement for identity theft, law enforcement usually requires some kind of proof that you have been a victim. A police report is often required to dispute fraudulent items. Individuals can report suspected incidents of identity theft to local law enforcement or to the Attorney General. 

Place Fraud Alerts with the three credit bureaus. Fraud alert can be placed at one of the three major credit bureaus by phone and also via Experian’s or Equifax’s website. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures, before they open any new accounts or change existing accounts. For that reason, placing a fraud alert can offer protection, but also may cause a delay if an individual seeks to obtain credit. The contact information for all three bureaus is as follows: 

Credit Bureaus      

It is necessary to contact only ONE of these bureaus and use only ONE of these methods. As soon as one of the three bureaus confirms the fraud alert, the others are notified to place alerts on their records as well. Confirmation letters are sent in the mail and the individual can then order all three credit reports, free of charge. An initial fraud alert will last for one year.
 
Security Freeze. By placing a security freeze, someone who fraudulently acquires an individual’s personal identifying information will not be able to use that information to open new accounts or borrow money in their name. All three national credit reporting bureaus listed above should be contacted to place the freeze. Keep in mind that when the freeze is placed, individuals will not be able to borrow money, obtain instant credit, or get a new credit card until the freeze is temporarily lifted or permanently removed. There is no cost to freeze or unfreeze credit files.
 
The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Contact information for various states is provided below. 
California Residents: Visit the California Office of Privacy Protection (www.oag.ca.gov/privacy) for additional information on protection against identity theft. 
 
New York Residents: The Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; https://ag.ny.gov/.
 
North Carolina Residents: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001, www.ncdoj.gov, Telephone: 1-919-716-6400.
 
All US Residents: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov,  1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), TTY: 1-866-653-4261.