What to do if your Identity is STOLEN

Please note that these guidelines are NOT an inclusive list. If your identity has been stolen, expect to spend many hours clearing your good name. It is an unfortunate reality that this process takes on average almost 200 hours of your time over a 2 year period.

DHI recommends that you be PROACTIVE in guarding your Identity. Protect your Identity BEFORE it gets stolen. Visit DHI's Identity Theft webpage for more information.

Guidelines to follow if you suspect that your identity has been stolen:

1. Call the fraud hotlines of the three (3) major credit reporting agencies.
   Ask them to flag your account profile with a fraud alert to prevent any accounts from being opened without your approval:
   
   • Trans Union – (800-680-7289)
   • Equifax – (800-525-6285)
   • Experian – (888-397-3742)


2. File a report with your local police.
   You will need a copy of the report to show creditors. In addition, you may need to contact the police department where the crime occurred. The Postal Inspector will also need to be contacted if a fraudulent change-of-address was filed.


3. Close all false or phony accounts.
   Ask for copies of the original credit applications for your files.


4. Close all existing accounts that have been illegally accessed.


5. Document your calls to creditors.
   Send a certified letter reiterating your requests. Keep a log of all calls, contacts and documents. File them in a safe place and keep them indefinitely.


6. If stolen items include anything with your Social Security Number, call the Social Security Administration to report that the number has been used fraudulently.


7. Call the Department of Motor Vehicles to discover if a duplicate license has been issued in your name.


8. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s)
   Identity Theft Hotline – (877-438-4338)

Other Resources:

• Identity Theft Hotline (FTC) – (877-438-4338) www.consumer.gov/idtheft


• Identity Theft Resource Center – (858-693-7935) www.idtheftcenter.com


• Trans Union’s Fraud Victim Assistance Department – (800-680-7289)

Losing a Loved One

Home Inventories help to prepare us for when tragedy strikes. The death of a loved one certainly falls within this realm. While unable to relieve the grief experienced by survivors, a Good Home Inventory can help alleviate stress by providing a central location for the decedent's important estate documents, financial statements, insurance policies, and heir designation of personal property.

In his article "Losing a Loved One", Rande Spiegelman, VP of Financial Planning at Schwab Center for Investment Research, has written a list of important procedures to consider during this emotional time. Mr. Spiegelman urges caution in making financial decisions and to be wary of criminal predators who scan obituaries seeking empty homes to burglarize. Mr. Spiegelman also reminds us to keep our own financial and estate planning affairs in order - he cites that after a certain time period, unclaimed assets resulting from a death by law become assets of the state - New York state holds $7.2 billion in unclaimed funds and California holds $4.8 billion!

A Home Inventory by DHI can help organize all of your important documents and property.

Thieves at Gas Stations

Actual footage of thieves working gas stations!! Summer is coming, please be aware of your surroundings and heed the recommendations of Sheriff Ken Jenne.

Sheriff Jenne says that the thieves are actually after items they can use to steal your identity. Protect yourself ... Please visit the DHI Identity Theft page to learn more.

Protect Your Valuables!!

Below is a link to a short article that overviews various ways to protect your valuables. Of note is #5 on the list which addresses a very affordable, state-of-the-art crime prevention technology called DataDots. Depending on its size, an asset can be protected with DataDots for pennies!

"6 Ways to Protect Your Valuables"