Someone has used my Social Security number to open accounts and now debt collection agencies are calling. What should I do?
If your credit report shows that the imposter has opened new accounts in your name, contact those creditors immediately by telephone and in writing (send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested). Recent amendments to the FCRA (ยง623(6)(B)) allow you to prevent businesses from reporting fraudulent accounts to the credit bureaus. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides a sample dispute letter at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_resolv.htm#correct. Creditors will likely ask you to fill out fraud affidavits. The FTC provides an affidavit form that most creditors accept, www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf . No law requires affidavits to be notarized at your own expense. You may choose to substitute witness signatures for notarization if creditors require verification of your signature. Make a written request that credit issuers give you copies of the documentation, such as the fraudulent application and transaction records. Both federal and California
If your credit report shows that the imposter has opened new accounts in your name, contact those creditors immediately by telephone and in writing (send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested). Recent amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allow you to prevent businesses from reporting fraudulent accounts to the credit bureaus.
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