The Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse and its Steps to Prevent THEFT

The Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse is the second step when you become a victim of identity theft to report the crime. When you report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse, the services will contact various contacts, including the law, investigators, particular "consumer reporting companies," lawyers and so forth in an effort to help you through the crime.

Once you report to the right authorities that you have become victim of identity theft, police department worldwide will have this knowledge. Next, you will need to report the theft to TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax and request and dispute any unauthorized debts, including bankruptcies.

It depends on the state in which you live, but few states offer the option of placing a FREEZE on your credit reports, which supposedly prohibits access to anyone but you and the bureaus. You will be provided a PIN number, which you can remove temporary to allow viewing of your reports in the event you are applying for a job or credit.

Victims of identity theft should be aware that any debts incurred on their reports come from creditors, or public records. When a person is sued, files bankruptcy, files for divorce, or judgments and tax liens are filed against, thus the information is public.

One of the cruelest laws is that the media can report crimes committed by a person, including placing the persons address in the papers. This is a surefire failure in the system that opens up the advantage for perpetrators of identity theft, and even predators to take control of a person's life. Thus, placing your social security number, home address, phone number and other information on credit reports where anyone can gain access is another failure in the system that opens the door for identity theft.

Thus, when a person is victimized by identity theft and the perpetrator commits an act that enforces tax liens, bankruptcies and delinquencies the information goes on the credit report. It is up to the victim to dispute the charges, however, even if the victim succeeds the information may stay on the credit reports for seven, ten, or fifteen years. Many people believe that debts stay on credit reports up to three years, however, Experian clearly states on its letters that debts linger on reports for 'seven years," while 'bankruptcies" remain on the reports for 'ten years,' and "tax liens" stay on the reports for fifteen 'years.'

When you dispute a charge on your credit report and after the investigation it is found you are telling the truth, thus the credit bureaus will place deleted behind the charge. To dispute any charges you must contact the credit bureaus dispute service by calling or going online and visit the credit bureaus sites. Keep all letters where a dispute was filed on records. If the companies accusing you of the debt, after a dispute is made cannot show proof that you incurred the debt, thus the credit bureaus will include "dismiss" or "deleted" behind the charge.

Thus, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) laws you have the right to sue anyone causing damage to you, by giving out, selling, or leasing your information, you may sue him or her in federal or state courts. Therefore, learn your rights, since companies will sell, rent, lease, or give out your information to others in some instances.

It is against the law for any company willfully given out information to others without the consent of the individual. Thus, under law the person can be sued, fined and tossed in jail, or both. For example, if a company sells, leases, rents, or gives your information out to someone else and you become victim of identity theft by reason of this action, you have the legal right to file charges and sue the company.

Finally, the steps to reporting identity theft include: Filing a report with the police, Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse and notifying the credit bureaus. You will also need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as the Social Security Administration. For more information on identity theft, read and learn.

Tony Robinson is an International Author, Webmaster and Security Guru. Check out his Identity Theft Protection Tips at http://www.officialidentitytheft.com/