Secure Purdue Information Technology

PERSONAL IDENTITY THEFT INFORMATION

If you suspect that your personal information has been compromised, information security experts recommend that you take these steps now and in the future to detect fraud or identity theft committed using your personal information.

  1. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you place an initial fraud alert on your credit file now by contacting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies listed below. The alert will stay on your credit reports for 90 days. Contact information for the credit agencies:
  2. Security experts also recommend that you obtain a free copy of your credit report from one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies through a jointly administered Web site, https://www.annualcreditreport.com. Carefully review your credit report, credit card statements, and other personal financial account information. Look for suspicious activity. This does not include incorrect personal information, which might appear on the report in error. Examples of suspicious activity are new accounts you did not open or purchases you did not make. If you see new accounts or other suspicious activity, you should take these additional steps:
    • Place a fraud alert on your credit file, if you haven't already done so.
    • Close accounts that you believe have been tampered with.
    • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. For step-by-step instructions and contact information, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.
  3. If you find your personal information has been used to commit a fraud, file a report with your local police department. This will allow you to send a copy of the report to creditors that require evidence that you allege a crime has occurred.
  4. Plan to carefully review your personal financial information on an ongoing basis. Periodically obtain a copy of your credit report. You are entitled to receive a free credit file disclosure once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies. As a result, you can order a free copy from each agency one at a time spaced four months apart so you can keep checking for new activity at no cost to you throughout the year. (Free credit reports can be obtained from any of the three agencies by visiting a jointly administered Web site, https://www.annualcreditreport.com.)
  5. Learn how to quickly minimize risk of identity theft by visiting the FTC web site: https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.
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