An employer tried to file a 1099 for me, simply couldn't. It was rejected saying my ssn was invalid, even though we verified the ssn submitted several times. This site has given me peace of mind that the problem wasn't related to fraud or identify theft.
Sharon D. - Sterling, VA
Frequenty Asked Questions
Who's stalking your SSN?
How valuable is your SSN? Lose it and observe out!
Assistance Middle
Victim of Identity Theft?
Identity Theft / Fraud Using your Social Security Number
If you lot doubtable your Social Security Number has been used to commit identity theft, contact the Federal Merchandise Commission (FTC), which is charged with handling most identity theft complaints. at i-877-IDTHEFT (i-877-438-4338) or get to: www.identitytheft.gov/ To lodge a copy of your Social Security Assistants earnings and benefits statement, or to check whether someone has used your Social Security number to go a job or to avert paying taxes, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/. If y'all demand a copy of your Free Annual Credit Written report go: annualcreditreport.com.
Important Resources for Identity Theft Victims:
Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline
877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338)
Equifax Fraud Partition
800-525-6285
Experian Fraud Division
888-397-3742
TransUnion Fraud Segmentation
800-680-7289
As well, please visit this helpful website for additional help and guidelines:
End Harassment by Collection Agencies for Credit Problems Caused past Identity Theft!
Did you lot know that it is illegal for collection agencies to harass you once you lot accept notified them that the debt is due to Identity Theft? Here are some steps to take if you observe yourself in this situation:
Contact the fraud department of whatsoever one of the three major credit bureaus to identify a fraud alarm on your file.
Shut the accounts that you lot know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affirmation (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) when disputing new unauthorized accounts.
File a constabulary report where you lot live.
Go a re-create of the report or report number.
Contact any of the other agencies specific to your detail blazon of Identity Theft.
File your complaint with FTC.
Follow up in writing. Adhere a police force report/number along with any other documentation y'all may have. Send Certified Post - Render Receipt Requested.
Document everything!
View Sample Alphabetic character to Creditors
Tips for Recognizing Identity Theft
Below are some tips for recognizing when yous have perchance been a victim of identity theft:
If you did not receive an expected bill or statement by mail - or you receive a neb for something yous didn't gild.
If unexpected charges occurr on your business relationship credit cards.
If in that location are charges on your account from unrecognized vendors.
If posted checks appear on your Depository financial institution business relationship significantly out of sequence.
If you receive credit cards that you didn't employ for, in your proper name or someone else's!
If yous are denied credit or are offered less than favorable credit terms for no reason.
If you get calls from creditors or debt collectors regarding merchandise or services that you did not buy.
Unlike Types of Identity Theft
Identity Theft and your Driver'southward License Number / Fraud
If your commuter's license number has been used to open up accounts or verify checks, contact your state'south Department of Motor Vehicles.
Identity Theft / Fraud Involving Your Passport
Notify the U.S. State Department's Passport Services Department of the identity theft so that it can intercept anyone ordering a new passport in your name.
When dealing with authorities regarding your Identity Theft issues:
Keep a Record
Because recovering from identity theft tin exist a long and complicated procedure, it'south of import to proceed a record of all of your communications. If y'all talk on the phone, make a notation of the date and who you spoke with. Send all messages past certified mail and continue copies. If you lot call up your case might atomic number 82 to a lawsuit, proceed track of how much time you spend dealing with the trouble.
File a Police Report if you suspect Identity Theft
Written report the criminal offense to the police or sheriff'southward department that has jurisdiction in your case and request a police written report. Jurisdiction would be where you alive, or where the crime happened. Though the regime are often unable to assist yous, a police written report may be necessary to aid convince creditors that someone else has opened an business relationship in your proper noun.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission if yous doubtable Identity Theft with your Social Security Number
Call the FTC'south identity theft hotline at 877-438-4338 and file a complaint. The FTC does not resolve private consumer problems itself, merely your complaint may atomic number 82 to law enforcement activeness.
Cheque and Monitor your Credit Reports if you suspect Identity Theft with your credit
Become your credit reports from all three nationwide credit reporting agencies and check for inquiries that you lot do not recognize and any new accounts opened in your name. Considering new accounts may take upwards to six months to show up on the written report, continue to monitor your credit reports on a regular basis.
Contact the Three Nationwide Credit Reporting Agencies to Place a Fraud Warning on your Credit Files
Accept one of the agencies put a fraud alert on your file, which will aid in preventing new credit accounts from being opened without your express permission. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion work together so that when you place an alert with 1 of these agencies, your request is automatically sent to the other 2 agencies.
Place a Security Freeze on Your Credit Files at each of the Three Nationwide Credit Reporting Agencies
You may request a security freeze be placed on your credit files at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Y'all volition have to contact each of them individually in social club to place a security freeze on your credit file with them.
Block or Shut Fraudulent Accounts if yous suspect Identity Theft
Contact the advisable creditors, banks, phone companies, and utility companies and have them close and discontinue reporting the accounts. You'll probably be liable for only $50 of the fraudulent charges, but different issuers take unlike policies. Near creditors promptly issue replacement cards with new account numbers.
Mail service Fraud
If y'all doubtable that someone has changed your accost with the post office or used the mail to commit identity theft, notify the United states Postal Inspector immediately.
Fraud Involving a Business concern Scam
If the fraud was perpetrated as office of a business scam, contact the National Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060.
Bankruptcy Filed Using Your Proper noun
If someone filed for bankruptcy using your proper noun, write to the U.Due south. Trustee in the region where the defalcation was filed. A listing of the U.South. Trustee Program'due south Regions can be found at www.usdoj.gov/ust, or wait in the blue pages of your phone book nether US Government: Bankruptcy Administration. Your letter should describe the state of affairs and provide proof of your identity.
Stop Junk Post, Spam Email, and Unsolicited Telephone Calls
General Techniques
Whenever you donate coin, social club a product or service, or fill out a warranty card, write in large letters, "Delight practise not sell my name or address". Most organizations will properly mark your name in their system. Product Warranty cards are often used to collect information on your habits and income, for the sole purpose of targeting straight mail. They are not required in about situations - avoid sending them. On the telephone, ask "Please mark my business relationship so that my name is not traded or sold to other companies".
Credit Cards and Junk Postal service
Credit Card companies sell your proper name more any other business organisation. Call them and tell them to stop.
Starting time Class Postal service and Junk Postal service
Cross out the address and bar code, circle the first class postage stamp, and write "refused: return to sender". Drib in any mail box; it volition be returned to the sender.
Bulk Post and Junk Mail
The mail office throws away bulk post information technology tin can't deliver, so returning it does no good. Bulk postal service is the hardest to bargain with because the USPS actively provides addresses, support and encouragement to mailers. However, if "accost correction requested" is written on the characterization: circumvolve "address correction requested" and treat like beginning class mail (above).
Sexually Oriented Advertising (SOA)
The only help you lot'll get from the Post Office in controlling junk postal service is for explicit stuff. Fill out USPS forms 1500 if you lot wish this type of mail service to cease. You define what you find to be explicit - if that's an auto parts itemize, the mail office won't disagree with you.
Credit Offers and Junk Mail
The major credit agencies all sell aggregate credit information to any bidder. Opt out from all Credit Menu offers from the agencies Equifax, TransUnion, Experian, and Innovis. Dial 1-888-5 OPT OUT (ane-888-567-8688).
Catalogs and Junk Mail
Tear off the label, write your request to be removed on the label:
Phone call the company'south toll-costless number and take the mailing characterization handy.
Fax it to the company.
Enclose the label in the postage stamp-paid ordering envelope. Mark envelope "ATTN: customer service". (This method is the to the lowest degree effective.)
AOL (America On-Line)
You could pave the nation with the complimentary discs these people transport out. Telephone call i-800-605-4297, 24 hours a day, to become off the listing. Tell them your starting time proper name is "electric current", last name "resident" only.
Publisher'due south Clearinghouse Sweepstakes
You can get the Clearinghouse to cease bottleneck your mailbox by contacting customer service at 1-800-645-9242 (8:30 am to 8:xxx pm EST), sending a fax to 1-800-453-0272, mailing to 101 Aqueduct Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050, or y'all tin can send email to pch@ant.net. PCH will remove whatever number of names from a specific address, merely you take to list each name exactly and insist nicely.
American Family Sweepstakes
Ed McMahon and Dick Clark will stop telling you "You lot take definitely won xi 1000000 dollars (maybe)" if you call them at 1-800-237-2400. AFP is a division of Time-Warner.
Local Business organization & Supermarket Fliers
All mailings must be identified, by postal regulations. Each loose-leafage parcel of fliers, by postal regulations, must be delivered at the same time as an accost card.
ADVO (Mail Comes with Pictures of Missing Children)
Phone call one-860-285-6100 to go off the list. You lot may accept to send a postcard to "ADVO Consumer Assist, POB 249, Windsor CT 06095-4176".
Val-Pak Coupons
Click the link and fill up out the form - easy, but don't requite them your e-mail address.
Carol Wright
Call 1-800-67-TARGET to become off the listing.
General Telemarketing Calls
Send a postcard to DMA Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 9014, Farmingdale NY 11735-9014, giving them your complete telephone number, area code, address, and names of people receiving calls.
Bulk Post "for current resident or ..."
Send a postcard or letter to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 15012-0643 Write "please actuate the post preference service", and include the name, address, and nada code. You lot must ship individual postcards. Below are links that can as well help you:
"How to Get Less Junk Mail"
National Fraud Data Centre
Federal Trade Commission: Telemarketing Sales Rule
For Online SPAM / Spam Mail
Never reply to a SPAM email. If you want to complain, use the services of a organisation like SpamCop to procedure the mail. Postage stamp out Become Rich Quick schemes: If you suspect fraud, send a copy of the mail to the National Fraud Data Center. If it relates to selling stocks, send to the Securities and Commutation Commission. Secure your web page: If you include a "mailto" link, as below, look to get junk mail. Remove the "mailto" and force people to manually enter the electronic mail address. Land your email address in a way readable just to humans (eg. "Y'all AT YOUR-DOMAIN DOT COM" [www.apparently.com]). Secure your computer: If your PC is running a mail server (such as Sendmail or Exchange) it may be used past spammers. Spammers often hijack innocent machines. Employ intendance with newsgroup postings: Post to a newsgroup these days, and you tin can be sure of getting both target SPAM (sports messages for posting in a sports grouping) and untargeted email. You can use an plainly false return address on postings: nigh news programs permit you fix this to whatever yous desire. Include your real electronic mail address (coded as above) in the trunk of your bulletin. Complain to your Senator or Representative: Laws will be needed to regulate the eventual legitimate e-mail advertizement industry.
ID Theft Prevention Tips
Don't throw old bills, personal records of any kind, or credit card applications in the trash.
If you don't have a small shredder - get one and use it!
If your mailbox does non have a lock, put one on it. Outgoing mail needs to be placed in a US Mail Deposit site - NOT sitting in your mailbox.
At work, do not leave personal documents of any kind unsecured.
Do not requite strangers any data about your children. Frequently, parents are asked how erstwhile their child is. Of grade, the skilful, proud parent tells anyone "Footling Johnny volition exist iii next March."
Leaving credit card receipts in your glove box, or anywhere in your vehicle, is an open opportunity for theft.
Do not write down your pivot numbers and carry them with you. If your wallet or pocketbook is stolen or lost, a criminal will have all the information they need to create a disaster for y'all.
If your ID is stolen or lost, don't procrastinate. Every moment is critical. Notify the Motor Vehicles department ASAP, call your banking concern, notify all credit card vendors.
Personal computer ripoff is at an all-time high. Avert Online ID Theft
Monitor your SSN past using CheckMySSN.com. This provides early on warning to potential ID theft and SSN fraud. Monthly monitoring is highly recommended - your Social Security Number report is automatically provided to you every month. Quarterly review of this report, at a minimum, is recommended.
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