If your SSN or ID number is stolen.
Not meaning to hijack Iq's thread, but this seemed to be the most logical place to post this. I'm sure other countries have similar problems, so just modify it as you need. If you can't afford LifeLock or other credit protection companies...............
You can take the steps that follow yourself, steps that are necessary to manage your compromised SSN. If you choose this route, you need to get busy.
•Contact one of the three major credit-reporting bureau Equifax (888-766-0008), TransUnion (800-916-8800), or Experian (888-397-3742) to place a fraud alert on your credit file. That bureau will contact the other two. Make sure that you renew the fraud alert every 90 days until you’re satisfied the matter has been settled. It could take years*.
•Tell each of the three bureaus that your SSN has been stolen. They’ll give you free copies of your current credit reports. Go over these reports looking for unfamiliar accounts and unknown inquiries from companies.
•Contact the Social Security Administration to get a replacement of your SSN card.
•Report the theft of the SSN to the IRS. Call 800-908-4490 to do this. That will prevent tax-fraud thieves from filing tax returns in your name—and collecting your tax refund.
•File an identity-theft report with your local police. The police report will be necessary to help clear your records and your name in the future.
•Keep track of, record, report and close all fraudulent accounts by contacting both the companies holding the accounts and the credit-reporting agencies. This will keep your credit as clean as possible going forward.
If several years pass after the theft of your SSN, and the problems arising from the theft continue, you may want to consider applying for a new SSN. But before you do, there are several things to consider: It’s not easy. In fact it is nearly impossible, that’s how rare it is. Even if the administration grants you a new SSN, your old SSN will never go away completely. The Administration never invalidates an SSN once it’s been used.
*My mother's checkbook was stolen when she left it in a store. Some checks were used right away, others popped up about 3 years later. Of course, she closed the account right away, but be prepared for a long term struggle.
