Identity Theft

[BrasilNuts]

About a month ago my mom found out that a long time employee/friend has been embezzling money from her for years.

Now my mom is worried that since this person had her SSN# and all of her other personal information that they may try to steal her identity.

Do any of you have any experience/advice on a way that she can protect or monitor her identity?

Thanks.

[ls3_kid]

This website may help. I know you get one free credit check from the big 3 (once a year). Sorry I'm not much help but it's a start.

FTC Office of the Secretary - Fair Credit Reporting Act Links

[Guest WyattEarp]

the first thing she needs to immediately do is get in touch with all 3 credit bureaus, and put a security freeze and a fraud alert on each. She needs to have a verbal password or security code put on the account that the Customer Service Rep asks her when she calls in designated for each account (She should never call from a cell or cordless phone, always call from a dedicated land line).

The security freeze prevents any credit from being approved unless they talk directly to her and she verifies the proper information and security questions.

The Fraud Alerts, notifies the credit bureau, the victim, and i think the authorities via the credit bureau, any time someone other than the victim tries to take out credit or otherwise use that social security and name to open up any time of account.

she should immediately file a police report, even if no charges are pressed or brought. she should report ALL of her credit accounts as lost/stolen, and have them immediately replaced, she should close her checking account and open up a new one with new checking account digits, and she should notify her utilities, cell phone, cable/internet/satellite, and place a pass code or verbal pass phrase of some sorts on each account that the CSR's will request in addition to her verifying her name, social and address and phone number.

you can either opt for fraud alerts for 90 days, or longer. I suggest the longer period. some ID thieves will use things, then layoff them for a few years, then use them again when they think a victim has let their guard down.

https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html

Identity Theft Protection from Protect My ID at Experian.com

Credit Disputes, Alerts and Freezes-TransUnion.com

Fraud Alert

https://www.alerts.equifax.com/AutoFraud_Online/jsp/fraudAlert.jsp

Security Freeze

https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp

[buck1032]

Wow, thats rough! Just another reason, that for the most part, I hate people in general. As ls3 kid said, get a hard copy of her credit scores. She should have them freeze her credit. Good luck.

[BrasilNuts]

Thanks for the information guys!