The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer Alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General.
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Social Security number identity theft occurs when your Social Security number (SSN) is stolen, and the fraudster uses it for financial gain.
Make it more difficult for a fraudster to obtain credit in your name. By contacting just one of the three credit reporting agencies (CRAs), the other two will be notified of your fraud alert request.
Equifax
Online: Equifax online fraud alert request form (PDF)
Call: 800-525-6285 or 888-766-0008
Write: P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian
Online: Experian online fraud alert request form
Call: 888-397-3742
Write: P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Online: TransUnion online fraud alert request form
Call: 800-680-7289
Write: P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
You must request from all three credit reporting agencies:
Equifax: Equifax security/credit freeze request form
Experian: Experian security/credit freeze request form
TransUnion: TransUnion security/credit freeze request form
You should file a police report. Take along: ID, proof of your address, and proof of theft. You will be provided with a copy.
Police departments are required to take your report under MCL 762.10C and MCL 780.754A.
Contact your financial institution to alert them that you were a victim of a scam.
Review your Social Security earnings records for accuracy.
Contact the Social Security Administration online or by calling 800-772-1213.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report identity theft and to obtain a recovery plan.
ChexSystems is a specialized credit reporting agency that financial institutions use for account verification. ChexSystems collects and reports data on banking account applications, openings, and closures, including reasons for account closure. A security freeze here can help prevent financial accounts from being opened using your information.
Online: ChexSystems security freeze request form
Call: 800-887-7652
Contact the IRS Identity Protections Specialized Unit online or by calling 800-908-4490. This will protect you from fraudsters who might file tax returns in your name.
Ensure login information used would not be easy for a fraudster to figure out.
Do not use your mother’s maiden name, your birthdate, or the last four digits of your social security number for account login authentication.
Monitory your credit on an ongoing basis by requesting your free annual credit report from all three credit reporting agencies online or by calling 877-322-8228.