[LinnieBeth]

Thanks to you ALL, I am reading the pages you have suggested, my husband has called some credit bureaus - though that put him into a hissy-fit - I called the police, but we have not yet filled out a report. I suggested to hubby calling FBI, but he thinks I'm losing it.
Anyway, I appreciate all your help and information

[HAL9000]

From the UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE -

Access Device Fraud

Financial industry sources estimate that losses associated with credit card fraud are in the billions of dollars annually. The Secret Service is the primary federal agency tasked with investigating access device fraud and its related activities under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029. Although it is commonly called the credit card statute, this law also applies to other crimes involving access device numbers including debit cards, automated teller machine (ATM) cards, computer passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs) used to activate ATMs, credit card or debit card account numbers, long-distance access codes, and the computer chips in cellular phones that assign billing. During fiscal year 1996, the Secret Service opened 2,467 cases, closed 2,963 cases, and arrested 2,429 individuals for access device fraud. Industry sources estimate that losses associated with credit card fraud are in the billions of dollars annually.

What to do if you have been the victim of credit card fraud or identity theft:

1. If your complaint is essentially a non-criminal dispute with a retailer or other business, you must immediately dispute the charge(s) in writing with the customer relations office of your credit card company.
   
   
2. If you have been the victim of credit card fraud or identity theft, the following tips will assist you:
   
   
   • Report the crime to the police immediately. Get a copy of your police report or case number. Credit card companies, your bank, and the insurance company may ask you to reference the report to verify the crime.
     
     
   • Immediately contact your credit card issuers. Get replacement cards with new account numbers and ask that the old account be processed as "account closed at consumer’s request" for credit record purposes. You should also follow up this telephone conversation with a letter to the credit card company that summarizes your request in writing.
     
     
   • Call the fraud units of the three credit reporting bureaus. Report the theft of your credit cards and/or numbers. Ask that your accounts be flagged. Also, add a victim’s statement to your report that requests that they contact you to verify future credit applications. The following is a list of addresses and numbers to the three credit bureaus:
   
   

   Equifax Credit Information Services - Consumer Fraud Div. P.O. Box 105496 Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5496 Tel: (800) 997-2493 www.equifax.com	Experian P.O. Box 2104 Allen, Texas 75013-2104 Tel: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) www.experian.com
   Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance Dept. P.O. Box 390 Springfield, PA 19064-0390 Tel: (800) 680-7289 www.transunion.com

   
   
   • Keep a log of all conversations with authorities and financial entities.
     
     
   • As with any personal information, only provide your credit card number to merchants you know. Also, remember to protect your social security number. You have to give your social security number for employment and tax purposes, but it is not necessary for many businesses. Notify the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General if your social security number has been used fraudulently.
     
     
   • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. Although the FTC does not have the authority to bring criminal cases, the Commission assists victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help them resolve the financial and other problems that can result from identity theft. The FTC also may refer victim complaints to other appropriate government agencies and private organizations for further action. If you have been a victim of identity theft, you can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the FTC's Consumer Response Center.

By Phone:	Toll-free 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) TDD 202-326-2502
By Mail:	Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20580
On the Web:	www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm
For Consumer Information:	www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm

[bootless]

Good for you. Do as much as you can as early as you can - while the trail is still warm. You can't let crooks get away with this sort of stuff - it only encourages them.