Floridians who fall victim to identity thieves have access to a step-by-step resource to help them minimize their financial exposure
The State of Florida has published online a “victim kit,” designed to help victims of identity theft through the complicated process of resolving their case and clearing their name. While there are many general identity theft resources available both in print and online, the website of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum adds that “this kit was specifically developed to provide assistance to Floridians who are identity theft victims, as well as individuals in other states who had their personal information fraudulently used in the state of Florida.”
Anyone who has had their personal or financial information stolen and used fraudulently knows that navigating through the legal system can be a lengthy and often confusing process. Contacting law enforcement, creditors, and financial institutions, and keeping track of the actions you take, the calls you have made (and who you spoke with) and any correspondence is a daunting task by itself.
When your identity is stolen your personal and financial data can be misused in a variety of ways. If you have become aware of a theft of your personal information, or if you are concerned about the possibility, there are steps you can and should take to protect yourself.
- Report any incident of suspected identity theft to the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus.
- Contact the fraud department of each of your creditors.
- Contact your bank or financial institution.
- Report the incident to law enforcement.
For more details on other steps to be taken, visit the Florida Attorney General's web page at
http://myfloridalegal.com/identitytheft