Written by: Chris O'Shea | savvymoney.com
If you find out someone has opened a credit card in your name, time is of the essence. You need to act quickly, but efficiently. Here are three vital steps to take.
The first thing to do is contact the credit card company and report the issue. They will likely connect you to their fraud department, which will then take some information. The company is legally required to investigate your fraud claim.
Once the investigation is opened, you will then:
While the card company investigates your claim, contact all three credit bureaus and either do a fraud alert or a credit freeze.
No matter what you choose, be sure to make this move for each of the three credit bureaus.
The final step is to contact the FTC and report that you’ve been the victim of identity theft. This will help prove that you are correct in your claim.
Do One Thing: Act fast if you find that someone has opened a credit card in your name.