© The Stelter Company
The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical
purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.
Jim Minehart
Executive Director
Development and Planned Giving
419-448-2060
jminehar@heidelberg.edu
www.heidelberg.edu
310 E. Market St.
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
Learn More
For more information and helpful resources about identity theft, visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
You can also call the FTC identity theft hotline toll free at 877-438-4338.
Signs That You've Been Targeted
1
]
A creditor or bank informs you that it received an application
for credit with your name and Social Security number.
2
]
You receive notice that you've been approved or denied by a
creditor to which you never applied.
3
]
You receive unauthorized credit cards, utility or telephone
statements in your name and address.
4
]
You no longer receive your credit card statements, or your
statements include unauthorized charges.
5
]
Not all of your mail is delivered to you.
6
]
A collection agency notifies you that it is collecting for a
defaulted account that was established with your identity but
that you didn't open.
Act Quickly to Minimize Impact
If you believe you are a victim of stolen identity,
immediately contact the fraud department of one of the
three national consumer reporting agencies. The agency
will place a fraud alert on your account, which requests
that creditors contact you before opening any new
accounts or making changes to your existing accounts.
Once the agency confirms your fraud alert, the other
two agencies will be automatically notified to place fraud
alerts on your account, and all three will send you free
credit reports.
Close accounts you know or believe have been tampered
with, and use the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ID
Theft Affidavit to dispute unauthorized new accounts.
The affidavit is available online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
Select "Sample Letters and Forms for Victims of Identity
Theft" and download the affidavit located under "Forms."
