All cases of identity theft and fraud should be reported to the Louisville Police Department at 303-441-4444. In a case of an emergency dial 911.

Identity Theft & Fraud Resources:

Credit Bureaus - Request a fraud alert be placed in your file, and a victim's statement asking that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. Ask for a free copy (if inaccurate due to fraud). Ask that inquiries related to the fraud be removed. Order reports again in 2-3 months to check for new activity.

Banks, Credit Card Issuers and Other Creditors - Contact each creditor promptly, then follow up with a letter to protect your legal rights. Check for fraudulent charges and or changes of address. Close the accounts that have been compromised and open new ones, being sure to use different, non-obvious, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords.

Wire Fraud - To report and attempt to restore wire fraud funds, go to https://www.reportwirefraud.com/for-victims.  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Wire Fraud Response Team will respond swiftly to the contact information provided.  If you did not actually send the funds, still report the incident, especially if you have received bank account information from a potential fraudster. Utilizing these resources will attempt to interrupt the fraudulent transaction by freezing the funds, and making sure all banks involved are aware of the victimization.

Law Enforcement Authorities - File a police report and get a copy of it to use as proof of the crime when dealing with creditors. Also contact the FTC at: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), or via their online ID theft form at www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft.  Internet crimes can also be reported to the FBI at www.IC3.gov.

How criminals can steal your identity:

• Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
• Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
• Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
• Changing Of Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
• Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.

How can you find out if your identity was stolen?

The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.

 If your checks are rejected by a merchant, it may be because an identity thief is using the Magnetic Information Character Recognition (MICR) code (the numbers at the bottom of checks), your driver’s license number, or another identification number. The merchant who rejects your check should give you its check verification company contact information so you can find out what information the thief is using. If you find that the thief is using your MICR code, ask your bank to close your checking account, and open a new one. If you discover that the thief is using your driver’s license number or some other identification number, work with your DMV or other identification issuing agency to get new identification with new numbers. Once you have taken the appropriate steps, your checks should be accepted.

You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.

You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.

You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

Take steps to respond to and recover from identity theft as soon as you suspect it.

Secure Other Vulnerable Forms of Information

• Create strong passwords that include letters, numbers and special characters. Do not base the passwords on easily found information, like your birthday or place of birth.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor’s offices, or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.
• Invest in a “cross-cut” shredder and shred any junk mail or personal information that you would ordinarily throw away.
• Do not respond to email, text or voicemail requests for personal information.
• Protect your computer. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Having a firewall is also a good idea.
• Shop or bank at encrypted online sites, especially when using public wireless networks. Look for the "https" at the beginning of the Web address.