Identity Theft Protection

If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following steps right away:

• Visit the Federal Trade Commissions Identity Theft website at www.identitytheft.gov to file a report and get a recovery plan. They will provide a list of steps to take base on the type of identity fraud you experienced.
• Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus below and tell them you have been a victim of identity theft. Ask them to place a “fraud alert” in your file, as well as a “victim statement.”
  • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
  • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Contact Trailhead, any other financial institutions you use, and your creditors to protect your accounts and close them if necessary. You may want to report stolen checks to the following agencies:
  • TeleCheck: 800-710-9898
  • Equifax Check Systems: 800-437-5120
  • ChexSystems: 800-428-9623
• File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy of the report because you may need it to validate your claims to creditors.
• Report stolen mail to your local postal inspector at 503-279-2060.
• Report your incident to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.
• Learn more about Identity Theft Protection.

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is the best way to help prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. You may do so by contacting each of the three credit bureaus:

• TransUnion: www.transunion.com | 1-800-680-7289
• Equifax: www.equifax.com | 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: www.experian.com | 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)

• Monitor your credit report by pulling one report a year for each of the three credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport.com. Pull one in the spring, one in the summer, and one in the fall. That way you will be able to see if there are any unauthorized credit accounts or application. Then file disputes with each agency when/if you find any.
• Keep a close eye on the balances and transaction details of your accounts (Checking, Savings, Credit Card, etc) by reviewing your monthly statements and using Online and Mobile Banking. If you see a charge on your account you aren’t familiar with report any unauthorized transactions immediately.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.