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ID Theft Unit

WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM

As soon as you become aware that your information has been stolen or used by someone other than yourself, you should act quickly. Here are some basic steps for you to follow.

Promptly report the fraud to local law enforcement, the Attorney General's Identity Theft Unit and the Federal Trade Commission.
– File a report with your local police department or with the police where the identity took place and provide them with as much documentation as possible, including a notarized ID Theft Affidavit. Get a copy of the report or other similar records as you may need them when contacting your creditors.
– File a consumer complaint with the Attorney General's Identity Theft Unit. The Unit assists ID theft victims and provides investigative services to help promote the prosecution of identity thieves.
– Also, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC maintains a confidential, national identity theft database, and may be able to assist in pursing identity thieves through federal channels, if applicable.
Contact the fraud department at any one of the three major credit bureaus. Ask the credit bureau you contact to take a report and to place a "fraud alert" on your credit report.
– Under Indiana law, you may also ask credit bureaus to put a "security freeze" on your credit report, free of charge. A security freeze can block an identity thief from opening a new account or obtaining credit in your name.
Equifax: 800-525-6285
Experian: 888-397-3742
TransUnion: 800-680-72789
Contact the fraud department of each of your creditors. Report the fraud to each creditor, even if that particular creditor has not been the subject of fraud. Close any fraudulently accessed or open accounts, and put passwords on any new accounts you open.

Depending on the type of identity theft that occurred, there are some additional things you may do to take control of the situation. To access a comprehensive guide to help you through the process of resolving your ID theft case, download the attorney general's ID Theft Victim Kit.

ID Theft Kit (English, standard font)
ID Theft Kit (Spanish; large font)
ID Theft Kit (English, large font format)

RESOURCES Attorney General's Identity Theft Unit: Submit complaints to the Identity Theft Unit online or call, 1-800-382-5516.

Indiana's Security Freeze Law: Learn about blocking ID thieves from opening an account or obtaining credit in your name by placing a security freeze on your credit report.

Federal Trade Commission: Submit complaints to the FTC online or by phone at 1-877-ID-THEFT. If you want to file a dispute directly with the company, ask if the company accepts the FTC's ID Theft Affidavit. If it does not, ask the representative to send you the company's fraud dispute forms.

Annual Credit Reports: Deter future identity theft by monitoring your annual credit reports online or by phone at 1-877-322-8228, free of charge.

Sample Letters:

Letter to consumer reporting agency disputing erroneous entries that resulted from ID theft
Letter to existing creditors or banks disputing fraudulent charges or debits
Memo to law enforcement officers explaining importance of police report for ID theft victims (Designed to assist consumers who have difficulty getting local police to take a report)

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