Identity Theft Affidavit Explained

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels

You just discovered that someone has obtained and used your personal information to open up several credit accounts and has taken a loan out under your name. You have become a victim of identity theft.

What do you need to do next?

Experian, an American consumer reporting agency, suggests contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to file a complaint. The website that does this is IdentityTheft.gov.

Related: How to Stay Organized With Your Finances

The FTC will then develop a recovery plan that assists you through the process of rectifying the problem. You will also receive from the FTC an Identity Theft Report, which will include the Identity Theft Affidavit.

The Identity Theft Affidavit is a document that you can show to businesses to prove that you’re personal information was used to open a fraudulent account. The affidavit includes personal information as well as a formal statement about the facts about the identity theft.

You will need to provide to the FTC your Social Security number, address, driver’s license number, or any information from another government-issued ID, and your contact information. You will also need to explain the details of the fraud that was committed.

Related: How to Build Your Credit From Scratch

You should contact those creditors who you are disputing to advise them that you are a victim of identity theft. Each creditor has their own set of protocols to follow, which may include you providing the document, a police report, and in some instances nothing at all.

More Content Like This

• What to Look For on Your Credit Report
• How to Create an Emergency Fund
• How to Help Prevent Errors on a Credit Report