The arrival of June marks the beginning of what is set to be another blistering summer on the plains of Kansas. But as the mercury rises, it is important that you not get burnt by identity theft. Last month I identified some basic safety tips (you can read these tips at www.kansasstatetreasurer.com) that you can use to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Unfortunately, sometimes even the best preventative measures fail. If this happens, you need to be prepared to protect yourself. This month's column will focus on these safeguards.

The first thing that one must remember above all else is that identity theft cases are always time critical. Criminals know that they are able to do the most damage directly after the theft occurs-while you may still be unaware. In fact, within a few short minutes or hours, criminals may be able to rack up thousands of dollars in debt and months of work for you to repair your credit.

Be smart. If you are the victim of identity theft, it is important that you remain calm. The following four steps have been compiled by the Federal Trade Commission to help assist you in the event of a theft.

Step One

Contact the fraud department of each of the three major credit bureaus and request that a "fraud alert" be placed in your file. Additionally, ask that a victim's statement be enclosed in your file requesting that creditors call you before approving any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. This may be burdensome in the short run but will help protect your credit in the long run. The fraud lines for the three major credit bureaus are:

  Equifax - Fraud line: (800) 525-6285
  Experian - Fraud line: (888) 397-3742
  Trans Union - Fraud line: (800) 680-7289

Step Two

Immediately close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened illegally. As I advised last month, it is a good idea to place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and make copies of both sides of all your cards. By doing this, you will have necessary account and emergency contact numbers for your stolen items.

Credit Accounts: These accounts include banking, credit cards, utilities, etc. Immediately change your passwords to ones that you have never used before. The best passwords usually contain a mix of numbers and letters. You are advised not to use easily identifiable passwords like your social security number, mother's maiden name or children/parent names for your new or existing accounts. Each creditor has varying policies regarding theft. It is important to work with these creditors.

ATM Cards: If your card is lost or stolen cancel the card and order a new one with a new PIN (Personal Identification Number). Never keep your PIN in the same location as your card.

Checks: If your checks are stolen, stop payment and ask your bank to notify the check verification service with which it does business. Follow-up all calls with written correspondence and send it via certified mail with a return receipt requested so you can document your experiences.

Step Three

Contact the police department in the community where the theft took place and file a police report. Once you file a report, get a copy for your records. If a report is unavailable, a report number will usually suffice. Often times, creditors will require proof of the theft for their records.

Step Four

Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 877-IDTHEFT (438-4338) to report a theft. The Commission cannot assist with criminal prosecutions but they can assist victims.

As you can tell, identity theft is not a fun prospect. However, once it occurs you must be proactive so that you can thwart the activities of would be thieves and protect your good name. As with anything, preventive measures are the key and remember, only you can truly protect your identity.

Editors note: Portions of this article have been provided by the Federal Trade Commission. Permission has been granted for reproduction without attribution. If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to jenalea@treasurer.state.ks.us or call (785) 296-3342.