Tag: TransUnion

Credit Freeze and Security Freeze

Regarding credit freezes, one must do so with each of the three. The below information is from each bureau to assist in understanding and also has on-line freeze request.

Experian
If you are 65 years of age or older the fee will be waived. To request a security freeze, log on to www.experian.com/freeze or send all of the following via certified mail to:
Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Include full name, with middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.; current mailing address and previous addresses for the past two years; Social Security number; and date of birth (month, day and year). In addition, enclose one copy of a government issued identification card, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, etc., and one copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, etc. Make sure that each copy is legible (enlarge if necessary), displays your name and current mailing address, and the date of issue (statement dates must be recent). We are unable to accept credit card statements, voided checks, lease agreements, magazine subscriptions or postal service forwarding orders as proof. To protect your personal identification information, Experian does not return correspondence sent to us.

TransUnion
If you believe you qualify for a free Security Freeze due to your age, please send us verification of your date of birth with your Security Freeze request. Acceptable forms of verification include one of the following documents that show your date of birth: a birth certificate, driver’s license, state identification, or some other legal document indicating date of birth.

Mail:
TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Equifax
The easiest and fastest way to place a security freeze on your Equifax credit file is via our online process found at the following link.
https://www.freeze.equifax.com

If you choose, you may also request a security freeze by calling our automated line at 1-800-685-1111 (NY residents please call 1-800-349-9960) or submitted your request in writing to:
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348

Please be sure to include the following:
– Your complete name including any suffix (e.g. JR., Sr., etc)
– Complete address
– Social Security Number
– Date of Birth

For your protection, please also send some proof of identification. See “Acceptable Forms of Identification for Verification”.

NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS 65 AND OLDER DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE FEE TO FREEZE CREDIT.

Below is the relevant site for each of the three: Experian, Transunion and Equifax, as well as an FTC site with facts regarding freezing credit reports. In some instances you can freeze your information through on-line access. Or, you can send a letter requesting same.

https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/place-credit-freeze
https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp

How To Avoid Identity Theft.

By Stewart Welch
on August 03, 2016 at 4:21 PM, updated August 03, 2016 at 4:33 PM
New Stewart Welch.jpgStewart Welch Founder of The Welch Group, which specializes in fee-only investment advice to families throughout the country. Contact welchgroup.com

AL.com recently reported on the arrest of a two-man Detroit theft ring who were in possession of 177 stolen identities.  Identity theft continues to be a growing multi-billion-dollar problem. I feel like the wildebeest crossing the crocodile infested Mara River.  I’m only protected by the law of large numbers.  What are your best moves to protect yourself from identity theft?  First, understand that attacks come from primarily two fronts:

Unauthorized charges against your existing bank or credit accounts.  I’ve personally had my credit card stolen on a Saturday night and by the time I discovered it on Sunday, there were over $1,000 of unauthorized charges.  I’ve also had my information used to make internet charges for several thousand dollars.  In both cases the credit card company did not hold me responsible.  Your best defense is to closely monitor all of your banking and credit card accounts.  For my credit cards I set up text alerts anytime a charge of over $25 is made.  For bank accounts I log in every couple of days and scan recent activity.  Easy, quick, effective.

Tip:  Fraudulent credit card charges are typically easy to handle with little or no losses to you.  Debit cards are an entirely different story.  If a thief uses your debit card information to purchase something or access your ATM, that money is gone from your checking account and won’t be restored until your bank goes through an investigative process.  This can take weeks and you’ll be out the money until it’s resolved.  If you have and use a debit card, guard it and your information very closely and I recommend monitoring your account activity on a daily basis.  If there is a problem, you’ll want to catch it early.

Use your information to open new credit in your name.  While this has never happened to me, it can be devastating to your personal finances.  If this happens the burden shifts to you to prove you didn’t open the account.  Your first line of defense should be to order your credit reports from each of Experian.com,Transunion.com and Equifax.com.   Look for any unfamiliar accounts.  These reports are free once every twelve months so a good idea is to order from one of the services every four months.  You may also want to consider hiring a monitoring service which will alert you immediately if new credit is requested in your name.  Each of these credit bureaus offer a monitoring service as do independent companies such as LifeLock.com.  Fees range from around $15 to $30 per month.  For quick access to your free annual credit reports, visitAnnualCreditReport.com.

Tip: If someone has stolen your credit information or you suspect you are vulnerable to theft, you can place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your account. Fraud alerts are good for ninety days and then are automatically removed unless you re-establish them.  This alerts any company seeking your credit file that you may be a victim of fraud and they should take extra precautions to verify that new or additional credit requests are valid.  A credit freeze is designed to prevent your credit file from being released without your expressed permission.  Credit freezes are ‘good until cancelled’ and you have the option to ‘temporarily’ remove the freeze if, for example, you are applying for a loan or additional credit.  If you have been a victim of credit fraud, there is generally no charge for these services; otherwise a small charge may apply.

For more tips on avoiding identity theft visit www.usa.gov/identity-theft.

New Mexico State Victim Resources:

Attorney General
Phone: (505) 827-6000
http://www.nmag.gov/

ID Theft Resolutions
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to (1) educating the general public, public officials, and legislators about the challenges presented by identity theft; (2) providing effective steps for how to prevent and respond; and (3) helping victims recover their identity and protect their credit. Services include free assistance to help victims, a free family prevention checkup, and a no-cost mini-workshop for small businesses and their employees.
PO Box 10243, Albuquerque, NM 87184-0243
Phone: (888) 484-9118
markmedley@idtheftresolutions.org

Agencies that offer assistance to IDT victims:

New Mexico Legal Aid
Program Phone: (505) 243-7871
Legal Assistance: (505) 243-7871   
http://www.lawhelp.org/nm/

Online Forms for Victims of Identity Theft

Security Freeze Law:

All consumers are permitted to place a security freeze on their credit reports. A security freeze prohibits, with certain specific exceptions, the credit reporting agency from releasing the consumer’s credit report or any information from it without the express authorization of the consumer. This prevents a credit file from being shared with potential creditors, blocking new accounts from being opened. To obtain a security freeze, credconsumers must send a credit reporting agency a written request by certified mail, provide proper identification and pay a fee, if applicable.

The credit reporting agencies are permitted to charge a fee of $10 for the placement of a security freeze, $5 for the release of a credit report to a specific person or for a specific period of time, and $5 to remove the freeze. However, there is no charge for victims of identity theft who provide a copy of a police report and for people 65 years of age or older.

Credit reporting agencies must place the freeze within three business days of receiving the request, and within five days, must provide the consumer with written confirmation of the freeze and a unique personal identification number, password or similar device to be used by the consumer when providing authorization for the release of the consumer’s credit report to a specific person or for a specific period of time or for permanent removal of the freeze. Requests for a temporary unlocking of the freeze must be completed within three business days. However, temporary unlocking must be completed within 15 minutes after the consumer’s request is received through an electronic contact method or by telephone, during normal business hours
Statute: §56-3A1 though 6: http://www.nmonesource.com/nmpublic/gateway.dll/?f=templates&fn=default.htm

 

 

Mandatory Police Report Law for Identity Theft Victims:

When a law enforcement officer interviews an alleged identity theft victim, the law enforcement officer shall make a written report of the information provided by the victim and by witnesses on appropriate forms provided by the attorney general. A copy of the police report shall be filed with the office of the attorney general.”
Chapter 29 NMSA 1978: http://www.nmonesource.com/nmpublic/gateway.dll/?f=templates&fn=default.htm

 

 

Identity Theft Passport Law:

A. The attorney general, in cooperation with the department of public safety and the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department, shall issue an identity theft passport to a person who claims to be a victim of identity theft pursuant to Section 30-16-24.1 NMSA 1978 and who provides to the attorney general: (1) a certified copy of a court order obtained pursuant to Section 5 [31-26-16 NMSA 1978] of this 2009 act or a full set of fingerprints; (2) a driver’s license or other government-issued identification or record; and (3) other information as required by the attorney general.

B. An identity theft passport shall contain a picture of the person to whom it was issued and other information as the attorney general deems appropriate.

C. The attorney general may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department for the development and issuance of a secure form of identity theft passport.  When an identity theft passport is issued, the motor vehicle division shall note on the person’s driver record that an identity theft passport has been issued.

D. An identify [identity] theft passport shall be accepted as evidence of identity by law enforcement officers and others who may challenge the person’s identity.

E. The attorney general shall maintain a database of identity theft victims who have reported to a law enforcement agency or have been issued an identity theft passport.  The attorney general may provide access to the database only to criminal justice agencies.  For purposes of identification and authentication, the attorney general may allow access to specific information about a person who has become a victim of identity theft to that person or to that person’s authorized representative.

F. The attorney general shall keep on file each application for an identity theft passport and each police report of identity theft submitted by a law enforcement agency.

G. The attorney general shall prepare and make available to local law enforcement agencies and to the general public an information packet that includes information on how to prevent and stop identity theft.

Section 31-26-15 – Identity theft passport; database.

 

Identity Theft Laws:

Theft of identity consists of willfully obtaining, recording, or transferring personal identifying information of another person without the authorization or consent of that person and with the intent to defraud that person or another. “Personal identifying information” is defined as information that alone or in conjunction with other information identifies a person, including the person’s name, address, telephone number, driver’s license number, Social Security number, place of employment, maiden name of the person’s mother, demand deposit account number, checking or savings account number, credit card or debit card number, personal identification number, passwords or any other numbers or information that can be used to access a person’s financial resources. Theft of identity is a fourth class felony, punishable by eighteen months in jail and/or a fine up to $5,000.
Statute: §30-16-24.1: http://www.nmonesource.com/nmpublic/gateway.dll/?f=templates&fn=default.htm