Found some discrepancies in your credit card statement or your credit report and suspect you’ve been victimized by identity thieves, who should you call? You should know your identity theft hotline. You can also call your bank, your credit card company and the store where you have a credit line, this should be done in order to minimize your liability. It is easier to get out of the problem when you called and reported the possibility of identity theft.

Depending on your situation, you can report identity theft to the following agencies:

The Federal Trade Commission

If you are having a difficult time connecting to the institution involved in your case, you can call the FTC instead.

The Commission is mandated by the Identity Theft & Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 to accept and process complaints filed by identity theft victims, they are also responsible in directing your complaints to the appropriate industry including the major credit and police agencies. Take note of the FTC identity theft hotline 1-877-IDTHEFT (or 1-877-438-4338). You can also go their website and fill up the complaint form.

The Social Security Administration

The SSA does not usually provide assistance to identity theft victims, but they do have a system in place that can help you solve your dilemma. You can call them at their hotline 800-269-0271, although this is not an identity theft hotline, but you can contact SSA at that number or you can use their website to file a complaint.

In case you are a victim of SSN theft you can change your number, if you fall under the criteria of SSA’s victims of fraud, you can learn more about this at their website. But even if you are given a new SSN and the theft is reported to the proper authorities, it is not a guarantee that your all your problems will be solved, as it does not guarantee a fresh credit rating, credit records from your two SSNs can be combined by different Bureaus, plus even if you are given a fresh start, having no record can also mean a hard time trying to gain credit.

The Three Major Credit Bureaus

These three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, are responsible for your credit rating as such you can get periodic credit reports from them and in cases of identity theft you can call their identity theft hotlines.

Remember to report any inconsistencies or discrepancies in your credit records at once to the proper agencies, always keep their identity theft hotline accessible to you. Reporting your concerns at the earliest possible time will help minimize the damage and make life easier for you in the long run.

Perhaps the most sensible identity theft prevention tip is finding out just where your lifestyle and habits are most susceptible to attacks. You may want to invest in some knowledge on how to protect yourself from identity theft.  Here are some tips you can utilize to ensure your protection.

Tip #1: Have Credit, Will Shop!

Did you know that you are just asking for trouble by using debit cards or checks when shopping online? Yes, credit cards often figure in many identity theft stories, but they still offer a lot more security than other ways. You will be able to monitor all charges and in cases of discrepancies in your account, you can dispute this and if proven you are not held liable for these charges.

When you use a debit card or a check, it opens you up to bank fraud, allowing the thief the chance to empty your bank account in an instant and the money is gone before you even realize what’s going on.

Tip #2: Don’t Jot It Down!

The teller or the credit officer may tell you to write down your credit card number on your check, but it is strongly advised not to do it, this practice violates the law in many US states since it opens you up to bank fraud.  You can check your state government or State Legislature website for further information.

Tip #3: Take your receipt!

Yes you may be carrying a lot of bags and boxes with your purchases and can’t be bothered with picking up your credit card receipt, but leaving them lying around where thieves can likely pick them up opens you up for an attack or if you do take your receipt but throws them in the trash, you better think again, Dumpster diving is a practice common to identity thieves. Be vigilant of your own habits, this is how to protect yourself from identity theft.

Tip #4: Look out for Skimmers!

You may think it’s safe to give an employee of the establishment you’re in your card to pay for your purchase, but you should always keep your credit card in sight, simply because of skimmers: a small handheld gadget to swipe your card in to get your account info. You can stop this by ensuring that your card is within your site, even if it means following a store clerk or standing up from the table to see where your card goes.

This is how to protect yourself from identity theft, a vigilant effort to ensure that your credit card details are not divulged just to anybody and minor inconveniences like following a clerk and such will ensure that you are less likely to fall victim to identity thieves and less likely to face problems that comes with being a victim.