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What should you do if you are a victim of identity theft?

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What should you do if you are a victim of identity theft?

Here are 10 steps to take if you feel that you may have been a victim of identity fraud.

  1. Notify affected creditors or banks.
  2. Put a fraud alert on your credit report.
  3. Check your credit reports.
  4. Freeze your credit.
  5. Report the identity theft to the FTC.
  6. Go to the police.
  7. Remove fraudulent info from your credit report.

Where do I report identity theft in South Africa?

It’s also important to report the fraud to the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). If your ID book and other sensitive documents have been lost or stolen, register them with the SAFPS via phone (011 867 2234) OR email [email protected].

How do I report someone using my Social Security number?

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If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490.

How do I freeze my Social Security number?

Freezing Your Social Security Number First, you’ll need to create an account on E-Verify, which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Once you do, follow the prompts to freeze your SSN. Then, file a police report. Immediately after freezing, contact the authorities.

What should I do if I suspect identity theft in South Africa?

Immediately report the identity theft to the South African Police Service and the company, bank or financial institution where the fraud occurred. If a bank account has been fraudulently opened using your identity, close your existing bank accounts and the bank accounts opened by the thief.

How can I find out if my identity is being used?

at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or go to: www.identitytheft.gov/ To order a copy of your Social Security Administration earnings and benefits statement, or to check whether someone has used your Social Security number to get a job or to avoid paying taxes, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/.

Can someone access my bank account with my Social Security number?

They can use your SSN to open a bank account in your name. That means that anyone with your SSN can easily open a bank account in your name, especially if the identity thief already obtained a driver’s license in your name.

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How can I protect my identity in South Africa?

Identity theft victim – Steps to protect yourself

  1. Get evidence.
  2. Report the theft of your identity to the police.
  3. Hire a private investigator.
  4. Report the identity theft to the Information Regulator.
  5. Credit and service providers.
  6. Change bank accounts.
  7. Change car registration number.
  8. Renew your driver’s licence.

What can a scammer do with my ID?

Depending on what identity thieves find, they can do things like open new credit accounts, steal from existing accounts or commit other crimes using a fake identity. An identity thief may try and use your name and address in several different scenarios.

How to protect yourself from identity theft?

Password-Protect Your Devices.

  • Use a Password Manager.
  • Watch Out for Phishing Attempts.
  • Never Give Out Personal Information Over the Phone.
  • Regularly Check Your Credit Reports.
  • Protect Your Personal Documents.
  • Limit Your Exposure.

    • How do you check for identity theft?

    To determine if you are a victim of identity theft, request a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion , Equifax and Experian — and review the reports carefully. You can access these companies via the Annual Credit Report website (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action).

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    How to report identity theft?

    Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.

    How to handle identity theft?

    Contact their lenders/creditors immediately to report the fraudulent activity on their account (s) and file a police report indicating that they are a victim of identity theft

  • Use the police report information to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and receive an FTC Fraud Affidavit
  • Dispute the items as fraudulent to each of the consumer reporting agencies that show the information on their report.
  • Place a Fraud Alert on their credit files—when an alert is placed with one of the three national consumer reporting agencies,it will be automatically placed at the other two.
  • Consider placing a Credit Freeze on their credit file (s). A Credit Freeze must be placed separately with each credit reporting company and is a more severe step that will

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DeOQmE55vA