Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 17 · column 1 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Theft
From Page B6
changed the billing address on your accounts to delay your realizing the scam. You are unexpectedly denied credit because your delinquent payments have been reported to credit reporting agencies. Your credit reports show new accounts you did not authorize, inquiries from companies you did not contact, and changes to basic information that you did not request. What do you do if you think you are a victim .
of identity theft?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you take several actions immediately. First, contact the three major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion; (800-916-8800), Experian (1-888-397-3742), and Equifax (800-685-1111). Request that the fraud department flag your file with a fraud alert and get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name. Also ask the three agencies for copies of your credit report.
You are entitled by law to receive a free copy of your credit report (www.annualcreditreport. com), when you request it, once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. Review the reports carefully to determine what fraudulent activities may have occurred in your name.
Next, contact the security division of any company for which an account has been tampered with or exploited. Be sure to follow up with a written account of the problem, so that you can utilize the provisions of the Fair Credit Billing Act to resolve errors on billing statements. It is also important to file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy of the report in case creditors ask for proof of the crime. Also report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Clearinghouse at 1-877-ID-Theft (1877-438-4338). Counselors will take complaints and advise you on how to deal with credit-related problems that may arise. If ID thieves, have tampered with existing credit card, bank, ATM or checking accounts, close the current account and when you open the new one, ask for password-only access or a new PIN.
In Virginia, ID theft victims can obtain an Identity Theft Passport. It is a card, issued by the Virginia Attorney General’s Office (www.oag.state.va.us/ FAQs/FAQIDTheft.html#Passp ort), that victims can present to law enforcement or others who may question their identity. The Passport is available to any Virginian who has filed a police report about the identity crime and/or has obtained a court order expunging their record as a result of identity crime.
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