WHO TO CALL FOR HELP

• If you're a victim of identity theft and the U.S. Mail is involved, call your nearest Postal Inspection Service office and local police.
• Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Website, which is the federal government's central consumer assistance and information center. The FTC provides educational materials and self-help tools, as well as an online reporting form. The FTC also maintains a toll-free hotline at 1-877-ID-THEFT, with consumer counselors available to assist victims.
• Report credit card fraud to the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax: 800-525-6285, Experian: 888-397-3742, and TransUnion: 800-680-7289.
• If you've had bank accounts set up fraudulently in your name, call these check guarantee companies: Telecheck at 800-366-2425; and the International Check Services Company at 800-526-5380. They can flag your file so that counterfeit checks will be refused.
• If fraudulent charges appear on your account, call the Consumer Credit Counseling Service at 800-388-2227 for help in clearing false claims from your credit report.