What should I do if I suspect I am the victim of Identity Theft? 

If you suspect you may be the victim of Identity Theft, you should consider placing a fraud alert on your file with the three major credit bureaus. A fraud alert is a free service provided by the credit bureaus that requests that any creditor contact you by phone at a designated number before opening a new account. The length of the fraud alert varies with each credit bureau, but you may ask the fraud alert to be extended after the initial request has expired. You should also consider obtaining a copy of your credit report to review it for any inconsistencies with your credit history. In most cases credit bureaus will provide a free credit report when you request a fraud alert. You may receive a free annual credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.You may request additional copies of your credit report for a small fee. 

Credit Bureaus and Contact Information
Credit Bureau Place a Fraud AlertOrder a Credit ReportAddress

Equifax
www.equifax.com

1-800-525-62851-800-685-1111P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA
30374-0241

Experian
www.experian.com

1-888-397-37421-888-397-3742P.O. Box 949
Allen, TX 
75013-0949
Trans Union
www.transunion.com
1-800-680-72891-800-916-8800P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834

What should I do if I know I am the victim of Identity Theft? 

If you discover that your personal information is being illegally used, such as applying for loans or credit cards you can follow these steps:

  • If you find accounts on your credit record that appear to be fraudulent, contact the creditors or financial institution immediately and request the account to be closed. 
  • If you believe your Social Security number has been fraudulently used, contact the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. 
  • If you believe your PII is being used for other fraudulent or criminal purposes, file a report with the police. Keep a copy of the police report in case you need proof of the crime to show the bank, credit card company, or other entities. 
  • If you have been the victim of identity theft, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Telephone: 1-877-438-4338. 
  • Keep records of your interactions with creditors, banks, police etc. Make a note of the dates and times you speak with entities, and the name of the individuals you speak with. 

If you have privacy or security related questions, please open a ticket at help.unm.edu