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DETER DETECT DEFEND

While dealing with problems resulting from identity theft can be time-consuming and frustrating, most victims can resolve their cases by being assertive, organized, and knowledgeable about their legal rights.  These tools are designed to assist you in resolving disputes related to identity theft and in asserting your legal rights.

ID Theft Complaint Form: 
The FTC is the federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints. The complaints we receive from victims are available to other federal, state and local law enforcement officials nationwide.  The standardized printed ID Theft Complaint can be used in conjunction with a police report to create an Identity Theft Report that will help victims recover more quickly.
Specifically, an Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report and also make sure that these debts do not reappear on your credit report. An Identity Theft Report can prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. It’s also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

ID Theft Affidavit:
The ID Theft Affidavit may be required for a variety of purposes, including to absolve you of the debt when an identity thief opens a new account in your name, or to obtain application or transaction records from a company the identity thief dealt with.  If you do not need to obtain any application or transaction records, and need only to have a specific debt absolved, you may want to ask the company whether they will accept the Identity Theft Report alone.  The Identity Theft Report is a more detailed version of the ID Theft affidavit, and as discussed above, entitles you to additional protections. 

Sample Letter to Request Fraudulent Transaction or Account Information:
You can use this sample letter to request information from businesses the identity thief dealt with.  This information can be useful to you to show that the thief, rather than you, made the transaction, and to law enforcement by providing information about the thief such as his or her address.  

Chart Your Course of Action:  Use this form to record the steps you've taken to report the fraudulent use of your identity. Keep this list in a safe place for reference.

Sample Letter to Credit Reporting Company:
Use this sample letter to request that the consumer reporting companies block fraudulent information from appearing on your credit report.  Click here for additional information.

Sample Letter to Company Disputing Charge on Existing Account: 
Use this sample letter to dispute charges on an existing account that are the result of identity theft.  Click here for additional information. 

Sample Letter to Company Disputing Charge on Fraudulently Opened Account:
Use this sample letter to dispute charges on an account opened in your name by an identity thief.  Click here for additional information. 

Sample Law Enforcement Cover Letter:
Use this cover letter when you go to the police with a printed copy of the Identity Theft Complaint that you filed with the FTC.  This letter explains your rights under the law, and explains the importance of having an Identity Theft Report.  Click here for additional information. 

Victims' Statement of Rights:
This statement summarizes the ID theft victim's legal rights under federal law.