It isn’t groundbreaking news that there are everyday occurrences of fraudulent activities on the Internet when it comes to people trying to steal identities. Hiding behind cash advance lender robes or new employment opportunities, finding anyway to get a person’s personal information, people become victims too easily. It is unfortunate that those who do this sort of thing make more people leery of using certain areas of the web, but for those who continue to use it cautiously, it is always good to know what to do if identity theft does hit home.
When you are looking to obtain a loan online, you know that you will be passing some personal information onto the lender. When a lender is legit, the information will be used for the sole purpose of that particular loan. Apply for credit cards, you get the same. Use online banking and have direct access to your bank account. Get duped by someone impersonating one of these players and your life will be in turmoil for a while. As much as the press would love to say it is only using cash advances which someone is at risk of this, but more and more reports include even banks and credit unions being targeted by those trying to impersonate or hack into the system.
What do you do if your personal information has been compromised? For starters, you should have a list of telephone numbers to call in order to protect your finances.
- Federal Trade Commission will tell you how to protect yourself if you fall victim to identity theft. 1.877.382.4357
- Social Security Administration if your SS number has been compromised. 1.800.772.1213
- United States Postal Service if your mail has been stolen. 1.877.876.2455
- Equifax should be notified to freeze your status and block new false credit or loan applications. 1.866.640.2273
- Experian is one more credit bureau to be notified of the same. 1.888.397.3742
- TransUnion is the last of the three major credit bureaus. 1.800.680.7289
- ChexSystems is a check verification company which can help if your check book has been stolen or new checks were made. 1.800.428.9623
- Certegy is another check verification company to notify. 1.800.437.5120
- TeleCheck verifies checks as well. 1.800.366.2425
- SCAN is a check verification company. Call them all to protect your bank account. 1.800.262.7771
- Identity Theft Resource Center will provide information and have other resources if you become a victim of identity theft. 1.888.400.5530
- US Department of Justice provides information on prevention and reporting. 1.202.514.2000
You will also want to call your bank and freeze your accounts. Call your current creditors, from cash advance lenders credit card companies to home mortgage loans and let them know what is going on. The last thing you need is for them to catch wind of any negative recourse and create problems for your present financial situation. Call your local police department and file a report.
Contact a new cash advance lender to verify its legitimacy.
Watch out for suspicious behavior and remember, if you are not looking to obtain a new credit card or seeking out a direct cash advance lender, then you should never give your personal information out to a person that contacts you. Keep your passwords safe and memorized. Don’t write them down, but do change them often. Organize yourself and keep copies of all documents, even if your case is over.
