Below are step by step instructions when reporting identity theft.  You may also refer to Florida's Identity Theft Victim Kit provides everything from contact information for the three major credit bureaus, to standard affidavits. The Kit is an invaluable tool for victims of identity theft in Florida, and for victims outside of the state who have had their personal information fraudulently used in the state of Florida.

Step1

• Report the incident to the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus.
• Ask the credit bureaus to place a "fraud alert" on your credit report.
• Order copies of your credit reports so you can review them to see if any additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or if any unauthorized charges have been made to other accounts.
• Request a victim's statement that asks creditors to contact you prior to opening new accounts or making changes to any existing accounts

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA  30374-0241
To order your report: 1-800-685-1111
To report fraud: 1-888-766-0008
TDD: 866-478-0030
http://www.equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance/

TransUnion 
Fraud Victim Assistance
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
To order your report: 1-800-888-4213
To report fraud: 1-800-680-7289 
https://fraud.transunion.com/fa/fraudAlert/landingPage.jsp

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
To order your report: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
To report fraud: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TDD: 800-972-0322
https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html

Step 2

• Contact the fraud department of each of your creditors.
• Gather the contact information for each of your credit accounts (credit cards, utilities, cable bills, etc.) and call the fraud department for each creditor. 
• Report the incident to each creditor, even if your account at that institution has not been tampered with. Close the accounts that you believe have been compromised. Ask the credit bureaus to place an "alert" on any accounts that remain open.
• Follow-up in writing immediately. The Federal Trade Commission provides an Identity Theft Affidavit, a standardized form used to report new accounts fraudulently opened in your name. Check with the company to see if they accept this form. If not, request that they send you their fraud dispute form. You may access this form electronically at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/, along with other pertinent information on filing a complaint, scam information, and the "Do Not Call list.”
• Confirm all conversations in writing. Follow behind your phone call with a letter and any necessary documentation to support your claim.
• Read "Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft"

Step 3

• Contact your bank or financial institution.
• If your checks have been stolen, or if you believe they have been used, contact your bank or credit union and stop payment right away.
• Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure about.
• Contact the major check verification companies and request they notify retailers who use their databases not to accept your checks:
  • TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898 or 1-800-927-0188 
  • Cetergy, Inc 1-800-437-5120
• If you suspect your accounts have been compromised, cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. 

Step 4

• Report the incident to law enforcement.
• Contact your local police department or sheriffs office to file a report. Under Florida law, the report may be filed in the location in which the offense occurred, or, the city or county in which you reside. 
• When you file the report, provide as much documentation as possible, including copies of debt collection letters, credit reports, and your notarized ID Theft Affidavit.
• Request a copy of the police report. Some creditors will request to see the report to remove the debts created by the identity thief.
  • Tips on Working with Law Enforcement

What else can I do?

File a complaint with the FTC's Identity Theft Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse is the federal government's repository for ID theft complaints. Complaint information is entered into a central database, the Consumer Sentinel, which is accessed by many local and state law enforcement agencies in Florida, as well as Florida's Attorney General, for identity theft investigations. Call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT or complete an online complaint form.

Get assistance through Florida's Fraud Hotline.
Florida's Attorney General provides a toll-free fraud hotline for Floridians who are the victims of Fraud. Contact the hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Trained advocates can help provide additional resource information in your area.

Minimize your risk
Learn more about what you can do to protect the privacy of your personal information by reading our prevention tips, and visiting the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Website.

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