Detect: Identifying Cybercrime

Routinely monitor your financial accounts and billing statements. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:

• Bills that don’t arrive as expected
• Unexpected credit cards or account statements
• Denials of credit for no apparent reason
• Calls or letters about purchases you didn’t make

On a regular basis, inspect:

Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill-paying history.

• The law requires the major nationwide consumer-reporting companies—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.
• Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, a service created by the three companies mentioned above, to order your free credit reports each year. You can also call 1-877-322-8228 or write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements frequently, looking for charges you didn’t make.

The Federal Trade Commission is the source for this information. To learn more about identity theft visit ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of identity theft resources by writing to: Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130 Washington, DC 20580.