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 Identity Theft
Please note that contact information below is being provided as a service to you. Pacific Strand Real Estate is not affiliated with any of these services and cannot guarantee their effectiveness. When you click these links, you will be leaving the Pacific Strand Real Estate Web site. Please refer to our Privacy Policy. Pacific Strand real estate is not responsible for the quality, delivery or timeliness of goods or services of outside Web sites.
Identity theft happens when your personal information, like your Social Security number (SSN), is stolen and used to commit fraud or theft. The thief can use this information to rent apartments, buy cell phones, drain your bank account or obtain loans and credit cards. In worst-case scenarios, thieves can even hold a job or commit a crime using your identification.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft affects nearly 400,000 people in the US each year. A person whose identity has been stolen can spend months or years—and thousands of dollars—to clear up their good name, and the mess made of their credit record. For more information about Identity Theft, please visit the FTC Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Identity theft is a serious and growing problem. If someone has fraudulently used your identification to establish credit, report the incident as quickly as possible to each of the credit reporting agencies listed below and ask that a fraud report be placed on your file.
Experian 888-397-3742
Equifax 800-525-6285
TransUnion 800-680-7289
You may also check to see if any additional credit accounts have been opened without your consent or whether unauthorized charges were billed to your accounts. Contact these credit reporting agencies to obtain a copy of your credit report.
Experian 888-397-3742
Equifax 800-685-1111
TransUnion 800-916-8800
You can obtain a copy of “Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,” a comprehensive guide from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to help you guard against and deal with identity theft. This guide, other FTC publications relating to identity theft, the FTC’s ID Theft Complaint form, and other useful tools can be obtained on the internet at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. To file a complaint or get information, you can also call, toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.
Identity Theft Resources
Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft/
877.IDTHEFT (877.438.4338)
Credit Bureaus
Equifax
http://www.equifax.com/
To report fraud, call: 800.525.6285 and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian
http://www.experian.com/
To report fraud, call: 888.EXPERIAN (888.397.3742) and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
http://www.transunion.com/
To report fraud, call: 800.680.7289 and e-mail: fvad@transunion.com or write: Fraud Victim Assistance Department, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Opt-Out Organizations
Credit Cards
: To opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers, please call 888-5-OPTOUT ((888)-567-8688).
Federal "Do Not Call" Registry
http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Check with your state DMV to learn more about their policies on sharing personal information with other agencies at http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/dmv-add.htm
Direct Marketing Association
Direct Mail Marketers: https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/ or https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/static/basics.jsp
Additional Resources
Social Security Number Theft and Misuse
Social Security Administration:
http://www.ssa.gov/
Mail Theft:
http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
Phone Fraud:
http://www.fcc.gov/
Other Ways to Protect Your Privacy
Marketing Lists
You can reduce the amount of marketing material and credit applications you receive via mail or e-mail by writing the Direct Marketing Association. You must provide your name, address and telephone number with your request. This is an independent service not related to Pacific Strand Real Estate.
Mail Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Assn.
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
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