Kansas Consumer Alert: Prevent Identity Theft after storms

June 17, 2008 -- Following the recent storms that devastated several Kansas communities, storm survivors may be missing important personal information or account information. While many survivors are busy cleaning up, it is important that they move quickly to protect themselves from identity theft.

Members of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division visited Chapman and Manhattan today to provide the following information to storm survivors.

If a storm survivor is missing important personal information like credit or debit cards, Social Security Cards, or passports, they need to contact the appropriate agency to prevent identity theft.

Tips to protect storm survivors from identity theft:

* If any of your credit or debit cards are missing after your property is damaged or destroyed, you should call the card issuer as soon as possible to report the card missing. If you don’t have the card issuer’s telephone number, you may obtain the information from your local bank, the web site of the company or by calling directory assistance.

* If your checkbook was lost, you should put a “stop payment” on all lost checks by calling your bank.

* Following the disaster, keep a close eye on your account balances and credit card bills. If you believe there are fraudulent charges to your account, call your bank or credit card company immediately.

* Following the disaster, periodically obtain a credit report. By examining your credit report, you will be able to recognize identity theft quickly and make efforts to correct it.

* If your Social Security Card is missing, report it the Social Security Administration at 1(877) 876-2455 and request a copy of your Social Security Statement.

* If your passport is missing, contact the United States Department of State at 1(800) 877-8339.

* If you are approached by an individual offering home repair services or disaster relief, use caution before providing your personal identifying information. Consumers should guard their social security number, account numbers and PIN numbers closely, especially if they are in a vulnerable situation.

* Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division for assistance at 1(800) 432-2310.

Tips if you believe you are the victim of identity theft:

* File a report with local law enforcement. This will provide creditors with proof of the crime. Contact the three primary credit reporting bureaus to place a “Fraud Alert” or freeze on your report.

EXPERIAN: www.experian.com

(888) 397-3742

EQUIFAX: www.equifax.com

(800) 685-1111 (order report)

(800) 525-6285 (report fraud)

TRANS UNION: www.transunion.com

(800) 680-7289 (report fraud)

* Review your credit report for unauthorized account activity.

* Report unauthorized charges and accounts to your financial institution and the credit bureaus immediately by phone and in writing. Cancel any unauthorized accounts.

* Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or by calling 1(877) ID-THEFT.

* Report the theft to the Attorney General’s Office. Call 1(800) 432-2310.

Source: Kansas Attorney General

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