Recovering from Identity Theft: A Strategy to Get Your Life Back
There is no easy way to say this—recovering from identity theft is a challenging process that will eat up many hours of your time. But you can do it! The most important thing in recovering your identity is to have a game plan and to keep organized. In this guide we’ll show you how to put together your game plane so that you can get your identity—and your life—back.
What You Will Need
There are seven main steps you’ll need to take to get organized:
- Get the supplies you will need, including file folders, storage boxes, or filing cabinets (separate from your other records, so the two don’t get mixed); labels, notebooks, phone logs, pens, and paper punches; a computer and printer; blank CDs or back-up drive for document backup; and a copier, scanner, and fax machine (or a combination device that does all three).
- Create a phone log before you contact anyone. Record the following: name, with correct spelling and title; direct phone number; fax number; e-mail address; surface mail address; and date and time of the phone call.
- Establish a filing system for paper documents. The documents go into folders labeled by category that, in turn, go into locking file drawers or storage boxes placed in locked closets. Some people might prefer using three-ring binders and loose-leaf paper. Others will want legal pads and file cabinets. Find a system that works for you.
- For electronic documents, you want to virtually replicate your paper-filing approach. Create a folder for every file drawer or storage box. Within that folder, create others corresponding to every paper folder you have. Be sure you label them the same way and use encryption software for sensitive data, so it will be unreadable by anyone but you.
- You want both electronic and paper versions of all documents. You will print paper versions of all electronic documents and scan all paper documents to create electronic versions. Now you see why your electronic filing system is the same as the paper one: the electronic and paper copies of a document go respectively into the electronic and paper versions of the same folder.
- As often as you process and file documents (no more than once a day), you will copy all of your electronic files onto a back-up hard drive or recording media like CDs.
- If the amount of organizing seems overwhelming, recruit family members and friends to help you. Once you’re set up, you’ll be filling out log books and filing documents as you go, so the ongoing work becomes easily manageable.
Create a Master Log Book
Next, start a master log file for recording all information as it comes into your hands. Here’s what you should put into it:
- Date/time sent or received
- Company/agency involved
- Name, phone number, and e-mail of contact
- How contact was made (phone, fax, e-mail, or letter)
- Expenses you incurred as a result (including out-of-pocket costs, time off from work, postage, fees paid to professionals, etc., for future tax deductions and to determine damages in a possible lawsuit)
- Date/time that you gave/received a response
- Date/time for the next contact
- A summary of the conversation or letter
Build a Victim Chronology
In addition to the log book, you want a running history of every step of the recovery process. Every event becomes a brief entry with a summary of that event as well as the date, time (if applicable), and a reference to any involved document so you can find it when necessary.
The chronology begins with the first indications that you might be the victim of identity theft and continues with each step as you continue your investigations. This is a critical document that shows your time and efforts. It will be helpful should you need to hire an attorney, if you must refresh your memory should to testify in court, if you are seeking restitution from a judge, or if you are settling a case with companies that may have violated the law.
How to Handle Communications
You need to record every communication, whether written or verbal, in the master log as well as the victim chronology from the previous section of this chapter.
- Letters—You’ll be sending many letters while recovering your identity. Every time you do, in addition to making paper and electronic copies to file, be sure to send by U.S. Mail, return receipt requested. Treat the return receipt as you would any letter, scanning a copy, filing both with the copy of the letter you sent, and making entries in the master log and victim chronology. Having proof of delivery of letters is critical.
- Phone calls—The problem with a telephone call is that any dispute about the substance of it can too easily become a “he said, she said” issue. So after a phone conversation, which you will note in the master log and victim chronology, send a follow-up letter (return receipt requested) giving a summary of the conversation and your understanding of what each party is to do as a result of the conversation. In your master log, record the conversation as well as when you sent the letter follow-up. You can also send an e-mail, setting the request for receipt. Keep copies of e-mails of receipt and document the e-mail in your master log and victim chronology.
- Faxes—Fax machines keep logs of when they send and receive faxes. Every time you do either, print out the log record for that fax and file it, along with a copy of the fax, in your files, as well as entering the fax in the master log and victim chronology.
Financial Records
About 80 percent of identity theft is financial in nature, so records from financial institutions will be the most important documents for investigating and resolving your case of identity theft. The financial industry keeps extensive records, so you can get the details that will help you investigate your case of stolen identity. But sure to get complete sets of:
- Credit reports
- Credit-card statements
- Bank statements
- Investment accounts
- Insurance policies and accounts
- Service accounts
Other Records
This category is a grab-bag because of the variety of records that might be important. Look through all of them to see what could apply.
- Social Security PEBES—Getting your personal earnings and benefit estimate statement from the Social Security Administration can alert you if the thief is using your Social Security number at a job and potentially leaving the Internal Revenue Service bill for you.
- Criminal identity theft and background checks—You’ll need to do a background check on yourself to ensure that you haven’t been made the target of law enforcement. Identity thieves are often involved in other sorts of illegal activity, which can create law-enforcement havoc. Some fraudsters, when arrested in another crime, will give your name to keep charges from going on their own records.
- Public records checks—These records show you what public records are associated with your name, including lawsuits, birth records, and licenses.
- Online records—Online records could include social-networking accounts, accounts with Internet service providers, and websites that mention you or your business.
- Medical records—Medical identity theft, like criminal identity theft, is a category largely unto itself, because there aren’t established steps to remedy the problem in the same way as with financial identity theft. If you have any indication that your medical identity has been stolen, like getting bills or collection calls for medical procedures you never had, you’ll want to check health insurance and medical records.
One you gather this information and put a game plan in place, you can start the process of getting back your identity. It may be a slow process, but by using these techniques and staying you can make the process much less stressful.
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Recovering from Identity Theft by Mari J. Frank
