How to STOP Identity Theft Resources

Thank you for visiting our How to STOP Identity Theft Resources page. His Love Heals, Domestic Violence Help™ has one goal, and that is to provide the most up-to-date resources for your safety. Many victims of domestic violence, who are trying to escape from their abusers, fall victim to identity theft, we don't want that to happen to you, please use our comprehensive how to stop identity theft resources to protect you from loss.

Identity Theft is on the Rise

The media is constantly warning us that identity theft is on the rise, that it can happen to anyone, and that it’s necessary for us to take serious precautions to protect our identity and our credit information.

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse need to be even more cautious about protecting their personal information because often, when an abuser feels that they has lost control of their victim, they will try to make life even more difficult for her by destroying her credit and depleting her financial sources.

It’s not unusual for an abuser to illegally use their victim’s credit cards, checking accounts, savings accounts, and social security number, in order to force her into debt and ruin her ability to get further credit in her name.

How an Abuser will try to sabotage his victim financially:

• Fraudulently opening checking accounts in her name.
• Take victim’s personal checks and purchase items without her permission.
• Bouncing checks – ruining her credit.
• Max out her credit cards – ruining her credit.
• Fraudulently using her or her children’s social security numbers – this can be used for a number of things including stalking, theft, harassing or threatening.
• Open fraudulent new credit cards in victim’s/survivor’s name – ruining her credit.
• Open fraudulent credit cards in children’s names – ruining their credit.
• Max out new credit cards – ruining her credit and/or her children’s credit.

What can victim/survivor do?

• Apply for address confidentiality program in your state:
Please see our safe at home, address confidentiality page.
• Open a post office box or PMB to receive all mail.
• Shred all bank statements, credit card statements, or any other documents that contain your personal information.
• Check credit report every three months. (You can obtain a free credit report once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com.)

If fraud or theft is suspected contact:

• Federal Trade Commission
  www.consumer.gov/idtheft
  1-877-ID-THEFT

Additional Resources:

• Identity Theft Resource Center: www.idtheftcenter.org
• The National Center for Victims of Crime: www.ncvc.org
• US Department of Justice:
  www.usdoj.cov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html

Tips and resources for protecting yourself from identity theft:

http://da.countyofventura.org/special_prosecutions/victim_services/va_brochures/identity_theft.htm

How to report fraud and how to contact all three credit bureaus:

http://da.countyofventura.org/special_prosecutions/victim_services/va_brochures/identity_theft.htm

How to contact local police and organize your identity theft case:

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17g-CrimIdTheft.htm#intro3

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