Identity Theft Prevention

Now that the holidays are over and bills are arriving, it is an important time to review your credit card and bank statements, to make sure no mistakes appear and to be cautious about debt collectors calling about debts that do not belong to you. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these are all signs that you may be the victim of identity theft.
Here are some tips from the FTC that you can complete immediately to help in a situation where fraud is confirmed:

1. Order your credit reports – Order your credit report from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. Review them carefully for errors or signs of fraud.
   • Equifax® 1-800-525-6285
   • Experian® 1-888-397-3742
   • TransUnion® 1-800-680-7289
2. Flag your credit reports – Call one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies and ask that they place a fraud alert on your credit report. The agency you call is then responsible for alerting the other two, and the initial alert is good for 90 days.
3. Create an identity theft report – File a complaint on the FTC website or by calling them at 1-877-438-4338. The completed complaint is called an FTC affidavit. Take the affidavit to the police department and file a police report. These two items comprise the identity theft report.

After completing the steps above, there are additional measures you can take that may help the situation:

1. Contact the issuers of your credit cards immediately – Prompt notice may help limit your liability.
2. Alert your bank(s) – If they have a process in place to do so, consider putting a fraud alert on your accounts.
3. Take steps to repair your credit – The FTC provides tips on things you can do to try to repair your credit after you have been the victim of fraud.

In the event that fraud is confirmed, Allstate’s Identity Theft Expense Coverage may be able to assist you with guidance and possible reimbursement of expenses. Regardless of whether you have this type of protection, finding out you are the victim of fraud is likely to create frustration, anger and worry. Being prepared and remaining vigilant are two good ways to help you fight it. Please contact me anytime with questions you may have regarding your coverage to ensure what matters to you is protected.