FAQ > Responding to Identity Theft FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

Answers

What do I do if a debt collector tries to collect a debt on a loan that I did not take out?
Write a letter to your debt collector and state your reasons why you dispute the debt and include supporting documentation, such as a copy of the police report or the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit.


What do I do if a phone service account has been opened in my name?
Cancel your account and use new PINs if you open a new account.  Contact your servicer provider and inform them of the situation.


What do I do if an identity thief has committed mail fraud in order to get my personal information?
Report it to your local post office and contact your credit card companies, bank, etc. to notify them of the situation.


What do I do if an identity thief has falsified change-of-address forms to get my personal information?
Report it to your local post office and contact your credit card companies, bank, etc. to notify them that your address was fraudulently changed.


What do I do if an identity thief has stolen my mail in order to get my personal information?
Report it to your local post office and contact your credit card companies, banks, etc. to inform them of the situation. 


What do I do if I believe my Social Security Number (SSN) has been stolen or misused?
Report your allegations to the Social Security Administration (SSA), request a copy of your Social Security Statement, and call SSA to verify the accuracy of the earnings reported on your SSN.


What do I do if I find inaccurate information on my credit report?
By phone and then in writing, notify the three major credit bureaus and request the information be corrected.


What do I do if I found inquiries on my credit report that I did not know about?
By phone and then in writing, notify the three major credit bureaus that unauthorized credit inquiries on your credit history were made and request that they be removed.


What do I do if I have been wrongfully accused of having committed a crime perpetrated by someone pretending to be me?
File an impersonation report, have your identity confirmed and prove your innocence by comparing your information to that of the identity thief. You may need the assistance of a lawyer to help clear your name. Contact the Ohio Bar Association in order to find an attorney.


What do I do if I think an identity thief has interfered with my brokerage account?
Report it to your broker or account manager as soon as possible and file a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.


What do I do if I think my name is being used to obtain a fake driver’s license?
Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and do not use your SSN as your driver’s license number.


What do I do if I think my Social Security Number (SSN) is being used to obtain a fake driver’s license?
Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and do not use your SSN as your driver’s license number.


What do I do if my accounts have been opened without my knowledge?
Close the accounts immediately. Get new passwords and pins and contact the three Credit Bureaus and creditors.


What do I do if my accounts have been tampered with without my knowledge?
Close the accounts immediately. Get new passwords and pins and contact the three Credit Bureaus and creditors.


What do I do if my ATM card was stolen?
Close the account immediately and get a new PIN and password for a new account.  Also contact the bank and inform them of the situation.


What do I do if my checks were stolen?
Put stop-payments on all checks remaining in the stolen checkbook. Contact the bank, creditors, major check verification companies and the police.


What do I do if my credit card was stolen?
Close the account immediately and get a new PIN and passwords for new accounts.  Contact the bank, credit card issuer, creditors and the police.


What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen?
Contact the U.S. Department of State through a field office or at www.state.gov.


What do I do if someone filed for bankruptcy in my name?
Write to the U.S. Trustee in the region where the bankruptcy was filed and include supporting documentation. Also, file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney and/or the FBI in the city the bankruptcy was filed. You may also want to contact the Public Defender’s Office or the State Bar Association in order to find an attorney to help you.


What do I do if someone has used my medical benefits to obtain services?
Report it to your insurance company and medical provider. Your medical provider will likely have internal protocol to follow.


What do I do if someone is using my calling card?
Cancel your calling card and use new PINs if you open a new account.  Contact your servicer provider and inform them of the situation.


What do I do if unauthorized calls are being billed to my cell phone?
Cancel your account and use new PINs if you open a new account.  Contact your servicer provider and inform them of the situation.