FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FTC.GOV/IDTHEFT

1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338)

IDENTITY 

THEFT

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FTC.GOV/IDTHEFT

•	 mistakes on your bank, credit

card, or other accountstatements

•	 mistakes on the explanation

of medical benefitsfrom your

health plan

•	 your regular bills and account

statements don’t arrive on time

•	 bills or collection notices

for products orservices you

never received

•	 callsfrom debt collectors about

debtsthat don’t belong to you

•	 a notice from the IRS that

someone used your Social

Security number

•	 mail, email, or calls about

accounts or jobsin your minor

child’s name

•	 unwarranted collection notices on

your credit report

•	 businessesturn down your checks

•	 you are turned down

unexpectedly for a loan or job

Taking Charge: 

What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen 

Available online at ftc.gov/idtheft

Order free copies at bulkorder.ftc.gov 

August 2012

Red Flags of Identity Theft

WHAT TO 

KNOW 

WHAT 

TO DO

MILITARY

PERSONNEL & FAMILIES
If Your Identity is Stolen... 

Flag Your Credit Reports

Call one of the nationwide credit reporting companies,

and ask for a fraud alert on your credit report. The

company you call must contact the other two so they

can put fraud alerts on your files. An initial fraud alert

is good for 90 days.

Equifax 1‐800‐525‐6285 | Experian 1‐888‐397‐3742

TransUnion 1‐800‐680‐7289

Order Your Credit Reports 

Each company’s credit report about you isslightly

different,so order a report from each company. When

you order, you must answersome questionsto prove

your identity. Read your reports carefully to see if the

information is correct. If you see mistakes orsigns of

fraud, contact the credit reporting company.

Create an Identity Theft Report

An Identity Theft Report can help you get fraudulent

information removed from your credit report,stop

a company from collecting debts caused by identity

theft, and get information about accounts a thief

opened in your name. To create an Identity Theft

Report:

•	 file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint

or 1-877-438-4338; TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Your

completed complaint is called an FTC Affidavit.

•	 take your FTC Affidavit to your local police, or to

the police where the theft occurred, and file a

police report. Get a copy of the police report.

The two documents comprise an Identity Theft Report.

Explain the situation to your commanding officer. You

don’t want your C.O. taken by surprise if contacted by

creditorslooking to collect on charges made by the

identity thief. You also may want a referral to a legal

assistance office.

How to Protect Your Information 

•	 Read your credit reports. You have a right to a free

credit report every 12 monthsfrom each of the three

nationwide credit reporting companies. Order all

three reports at once, or order one report every four

months. To order, go to annualcreditreport.com or

call 1-877-322-8228.

•	 Read your bank, credit card, and accountstatements,

and the explanation of medical benefitsfrom your

health plan. If a statement has mistakes or doesn’t

come on time, contact the business.

•	 Shred all documentsthatshow personal, financial,

and medical information before you throw

them away.

•	 Don’t respond to email, text, and phone messages

that ask for personal information. Legitimate

companies don’t ask for information this way. Delete

the messages.

•	 Create passwordsthat mix letters, numbers, and

special characters. Don’t use the same password for

more than one account.

•	 If you shop or bank online, use websitesthat protect

your financial information with encryption. An

encrypted site has “https” at the beginning of the

web address; “s” isforsecure.

•	 If you use a public wireless network, don’tsend

information to any website that isn’t fully encrypted.

•	 Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a

firewall on your computer.

•	 Set your computer’s operating system, web browser,

and security system to update automatically.

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a serious crime. It can disrupt your

finances, credit history, and reputation, and take time,

money, and patience to resolve. Identity theft happens

when someone steals your personal information and uses

it without your permission. The rigors of military life can

compound the problemsthat identity theft creates.

Identity thieves might:

•	 go through trash cans and dumpsters,stealing bills

and documentsthat have sensitive information.

•	 work for businesses, medical offices, or government

agencies, and steal personal information on the job.

•	 misuse the name of a legitimate business, and call

orsend emailsthat trick you into revealing personal

information.

•	 pretend to offer a job, a loan, or an apartment, and

ask you to send personal information to “qualify.”

•	 steal your wallet, purse, backpack, or mail, and

remove your credit cards, driver’slicense, passport,

health insurance card, military ID, and other items

thatshow personal information.

Active Duty Alert

Put an “active duty alert” on your credit report

if you’re deployed and don’t expect to seek new

credit. The alert requires creditorsto take steps

to verify your identity before granting credit in

your name. It lastsfor a year but can be renewed.

Call the fraud department of one credit reporting

company; they must contact the other two.