Identity
theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. When a dishonest
person has your Social Security number, the thief can use it to
get other personal information about you. Most of the time identity
thieves use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit
in your name. You do not find out that someone is using your number
until you are turned down for credit, or you begin to get calls
from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought.
The Millsaps Campus Safety Department has compiled a list of helpful
and important information links that you can access from our department
webpage below that will be helpful to you in trying to avoid identity
fraud or if you have been a victim of identity fraud, will be able
to assist you in the proper steps in clearing up the mess.
If you think your identity has been stolen, you'll need to act quickly.
Report it immediately to the three credit reporting bureaus. Ask
to have a victim's statement added to your file, so that future
applications for credit will have to be verified by you. Report
it to the police and make sure you get a copy of the police report
to show to credit card companies in case they ask.
If there has
been fraudulent activity on your own cards (rather than just those
that the thief has applied for) cancel every one and get new cards
and account numbers. Stop payment on any outstanding checks, and
get new cards, PIN numbers, and account numbers for the ATM as well.
Only change your Social Security number in the most severe of situations—if
your name has been associated with bad checks and credit. It's a
record-keeping nightmare. If you go this extra step, it's up to
you to let your financial institutions, employers, the IRS, creditors,
and the credit bureaus know of the change.
You can contact each of the three credit bureaus directly:
Credit
card security information:
General information:
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