摘录自 Chicago Tribune (Feb 27, 2005) Credit reports to help consumers fight ID theft rise Demand for financial, personal data mounts By Lorene Yue Tribune staff reporter Published February 27, 2005 Free, limited access to reports On Tuesday, Midwesterners will get their chance to nip identity theft in the bud. Consumers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, the Dakotas, Kansas and Nebraska can request a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus by going to a special Web site (www.annualcreditreport.com) or calling 877-322-8228. It is the second phase of the federal program that began Dec. 1 on the West Coast. Southern states join the program June 1, followed by the remaining states Sept. 1. By state law, residents of Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont can get free credit reports at any time. "We certainly encourage consumers to take advantage of this," said Colleen Martin, spokeswoman for Chicago-based TransUnion LLC, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus. "If you seethings that are suspicious, you need to take action right away." The necessary steps include filing a police report and filling out an affidavit found at the Federal Trade Commission's Web site (www.ftc.gov). Those documents will help prove someone opened an account with stolen information. Ask one of the credit bureaus--they'll notify the other two--for a fraud alert, then request a credit report at least every three to four months for a year. But identity theft may be the crime that keeps on taking. Scanning your credit report Here's what to look for once you get your credit report. - Check for accounts and charges you don't recognize. - Look for a high number of credit inquiries. A thief may have unsuccessfully tried to use your personal information to open an account. If it's a credit issuer checking out your status for a pre-approved offer, you'll find a promotional tag next to the entry. Only financial activity shows up on your credit report. If you're the victim of identity theft your report will not show: - Apartment rentals. Someone can use your information to rent an apartment in your name. - Arrest records. A thief could use your identity when arrested. If you're victim of identity theft Something suspicious on your credit report? You may be the victim of identity theft. Here are some steps you should take: - Put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three reporting bureaus: Equifax at Equifax.com or 800-685-1111, Experian at Experian.com or 888-397-3742 or TransUnion at TransUnion.com or 800-680-7289. Call one and they'll alert the other two. Most fraud alerts last for 90 days and can last up to seven years. The alert makes it more difficult for thieves to get credit in your name. - Notify your credit card issuers and financial institutions that you may have been the victim of identity theft. Immediately cancel any bogus accounts you discover. - File a police report and ask for a copy. You may need this to prove to creditors and financial institutions that you are not responsible for accounts opened without your permission. - Complete a fraud affidavit. You can get one at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf --

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