If you think you have become a victim of identity theft or fraud, act immediately to minimize the damage to your personal funds and financial accounts and reputation.

1. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the situation. You can access the FTC Online, call toll-free at 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338) or TDD at 202-326-2502, or send mail to Consumer Response Center, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

   Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for receiving and processing complaints from people who think they are victims of identity theft. The FTC provides informational materials to people and refers complaints to appropriate entities, including the major credit reporting agencies and law enforcement agencies. For further information, please check the FTC's identity theft Web pages.

2. Call your local FBI office or the U.S. Secret Service to report crimes relating to identity theft and fraud.
   
   
3. Contact other agencies for other types of identity theft.
   

   • The local Postal Inspection Service office if you suspect that an identity thief submitted a change-of-address form with the Post Office to redirect your mail, or used the mail to commit frauds involving your identity.
   
   
   
   • The Social Security Administration if you suspect that your Social Security number is being fraudulently used (call 800-269-0271 to report the fraud).
   
   
   
   • The Internal Revenue Service if you suspect the improper use of identification information in connection with tax violations (call 1-800-829-0433 to report the violations).
     
     
4. Call the fraud units of the three principal credit reporting companies.
   
   Equifax:
   

   • To report fraud, call (800) 525-6285 or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250.
   
   
   • To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241, or call (800) 685-1111.
   
   
   • To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
   
   
   • To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit, call (888) 567-8688 or write to Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta GA 30374-0123.
   
   

   Experian:
   

   • To report fraud, call (888) EXPERIAN or (888) 397-3742, fax to (800) 301-7196, or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013.
   
   
   • To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states): P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013, or call (888) EXPERIAN.
   
   
   • To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
   
   
   • To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (800) 353-0809 or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O. Box 919, Allen, TX 75013.
   
   

   Trans Union:
   

   • To report fraud, call (800) 680-7289 or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.
   
   
   • To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064 or call: (800) 888-4213.
   
   
   • To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
   
   
   • To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (800) 680-7293 or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39238.
     
     
5. Notify ChexSystems at 800-513-7125 to have a security flag issued under your personal identification information.
   
   
6. Contact all creditors with whom your name or identifying data has been fraudulently used. For example, you may need to contact your long-distance telephone company if your long-distance calling card was stolen or you find fraudulent charges on your bill.
   
   
7. Contact all financial institutions where you have accounts that an identity thief has taken over or that were created in your name but without your knowledge.
   
   
8. Cancel those accounts, place stop-payment orders on any outstanding checks that may not have cleared, and change your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, account, and Personal Identification Number (PIN)