Who to Call When Identity Theft Happens: Quick Reference for North Carolina Families

Report the fraud to law enforcement as soon as possible and ask for a copy of the police report. The North Carolina Identity Theft Victim Toolkit puts this step first for good reason: that report becomes the backbone of your dispute paperwork, especially when you're trying to get fraudulent accounts and debts removed from your record. If you know where your identity was used, file reports with both your local police department and the police in the location where the fraud occurred.

Next, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The toolkit directs victims to contact the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1 (877) ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338) for help and to make an official report. This creates a formal record at the federal level and can support the rest of your cleanup steps.

Call one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert and request your free credit reports. The toolkit lists these numbers: Equifax: (800) 525-6285; Experian: (888) 397-3742; TransUnion: (800) 680-7289. Have your police report information ready when you call - the bureau can connect your alert to a law enforcement report.

If your North Carolina driver's license was stolen - or you suspect someone got a license using your information - contact the NC DMV License and Theft section at (919) 861-3185. Ask them to add a notation to the comments section of your license file so there's a record tied to your DMV profile.

If your ATM or debit card is involved, treat it as an emergency. Report the card stolen or compromised immediately, then get a new card, new account number, and new password. Don't reuse the old password - fresh credentials help cut off repeat fraud.

• ✓ CheckRite: Call (800) 766-2748 if stolen checks or fraudulent check activity is showing up.
• ✓ ChexSystems: Call (800) 428-9623 if you suspect a fraudulent bank account or check-related reporting.
• ✓ Equifax (check verification): Call (800) 437-5120 for check verification issues tied to your identity.
• ✓ International Check Services (formerly NPC): Call (800) 526-5380 if a merchant points you to this verifier.
• ✓ SCAN: Call (800) 262-7771 if a store uses SCAN and your checks are being flagged.
• ✓ TeleCheck: Call (800) 710-9898 if TeleCheck is involved in a check rejection or fraud report.

If someone is using your Social Security number, report it to the Social Security Administration's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271. The toolkit also recommends ordering a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) and checking it for accuracy. Earnings you don't recognize can signal that your SSN is being used for employment.

If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing so they can watch for anyone trying to order a new one in your name. The contact listed in the toolkit is the Washington Passport Agency, 1111 19th Street NW, Washington DC 20524, phone (202) 647-0518.

1. Cancel the calling card account - if the card is stolen or you see charges you didn’t make, shut the account down.
2. Open a new account - start fresh so the thief can’t keep charging against the old account.
3. Require a password for changes - set a password that must be used any time the account is changed.

If creditors or the credit bureaus won't cooperate when you're trying to remove fraudulent entries, consider talking with an attorney about your legal options. This step is most useful after you've gathered your documentation - especially the police report - and you're still getting stonewalled.