I had my identity stolen a few different times - one from a bank account, one from a spoofed phone thingy, one from an email, and one from a SSN. I'm a veteran, so I'm sure I'm vulnerable with certain hackers targeting veterans and selling our info at a higher cost to the black market. I've since learned to google information about identity theft and do what I can to protect myself from future victimization. Here's what I researched just now (within the U.S.) for you:
VICTIM RESOURCES:
1.
National Center for Victims of Crime
2.
U.S. Department of Justice - Office for Victims of Crime
3.
Aftermath
NOTE: You might be able to get additional support, resources, and compensation for your identity theft victimization. Keep all your reports, mental health records related to identity theft victimization, and losses, stresses, etc., handy (such as dealing with disability reviews).
IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCES:
1. FIRST, report identity theft here:
U.S. Federal Trade Commission - Identity Theft.
2. NEXT, check out
Consumer Information - Federal Trade Commission - Identity Theft.
3. NEXT, check out
USA.gov - Identity Theft.
4. NEXT, consider
Police Reporting on Identity Theft: ("You may choose to report your identity theft to your local police station. It could be necessary if: 1. You know the identity thief; or 2. The thief used your name in an interaction with the police; or 3. A creditor or another company requires you to provide a police report.").
5. NEXT, consider
reporting specific types of identity theft at one or more of the following agencies:
unemployment insurance fraud here, report
IRS (Internal Revenue Service) fraud here, report
medical fraud to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) here, and report
Social Security Fraud here.
6. NEXT, given all of the reports made above and your newfound knowledge after reading those websites' information on identity theft, place a
credit freeze with the four major credit reporting agencies:
Experian,
Equifax,
Transunion, and
Innovis.
7. IN ADDITION TO STEP #6, consider
placing a fraud alert with the three major credit reporting agencies:
Equifax,
Experian, and
Transunion.
8. NEXT,
remain informed about identity theft here.
9. ALSO,
report scams; see information here.
10. ADDITIONALLY,
protect your privacy online; find information here.
11. ALSO, consider filing specific reports to the FBI:
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) - Identity Theft.
12. Here's more information on the
FBI's (Federal Bureau of Investigation's) Internet Crime Complaint Center - identity theft included.
13. Here's more information on
preventing identity theft - Consumer.gov.
14. Here's even more information on
preventing identity theft - FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
15. And finally, here's even more information on
preventing identity theft - USA.gov.
LOCAL RESOURCES:
1. Your non-emergency police line.
2. Your local 2-1-1 line.
3. Your local 3-1-1 line.
4. Your local victim's advocacy office.
5. Your local FBI office.
6. Your local Medicare office (if medical fraud with your social security card was utilized).
7. Your local Social Security office (if your social security was fraudulently used in any way).
8. Your local Medicaid office (if medical fraud with your social security number was utilized).
9. Your local Attorney General's Office (or the Attorney General's Office in the jurisdiction where your identity was stolen, and the company name, to report).
10. Your local VA's patient advocacy (if you're a veteran experiencing identity theft).
11. Your local hospital's patient advocacy (if you're a patient and concerned about insurance implications from identity theft).
12. Your healthcare insurance company (if you feel your insurance is compromised due to identity theft).
NOTE: Keep a journal, log, and/or spreadsheet of all the institutions you have contacted regarding identity theft, all the specifics of the identity theft (how and when you discovered it, what you know about the offender/perpetrator of identity theft, what vulnerabilities that might have compromised your identity - such as not having internet security, giving away information via a phone scam, being part of a major hack from a company that was recently hacked, etc.), and what other information or questions you may have regarding your identity theft experience. Keep this record handy for life, as there may be repeat offenders and/or repeat attempts in the future. Consider changing your phone number, changing your email addresses, changing your passwords, changing your computer(s), changing your cell phone/smart phone, changing anything that holds your personal information, and possibly even your physical address and other businesses, if you are not particularly happy where you live. I've moved a few times because I'm alone and can afford to do so. I've avoided many identity thefts from this, but I have still fallen victim to identity theft from previous places I had lived - at least those jurisdictions. I knew then where the source of my identity theft victimization may have originated - whether it be in person or online. This will help you in the future.