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)

ID Theft from your Mail Box

One of the most common practices for a thief to steal your identity is to steal your mail.

A good security step is to use a locked mailbox.

However, with Lock Bumping, the security step of using a locked mailbox provides only a minor inconvenience to a thief. Most grouped mailboxes (apartment complexes, HOA mailbox centers, etc.) use a common lock with slight differences in the key for each mailbox. A thief with a master bump key for a group of mailboxes could literally steal hundreds of pieces of mail within a matter of minutes!

What can you do? Contact your HOA or apartment management (or the like) and request that they change the locks to bump-proof locks. However, although a justified cost in your eyes, the management will probably view the current setup as sufficient and not do anything.

Another step would be proactive of your part. Prevent your identity from being stolen before a thief even tries.

How? Please visit the DHI Identity Theft page to learn more.