How To Report Identity Theft With Aura

Identity theft is a growing problem in the United States, with reports of ID theft more than doubling between 2019 and 2021. Reporting these crimes is an integral step toward stopping fraudsters and helping victims take control of their personal information and finances. Consumers who suspect their identity has been stolen should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and, in some cases, to the local police department.

That said, there are several other financial institutions and organizations a consumer should contact if they believe their personal information has been compromised. Aura simplifies this process by providing a U.S.-based, dedicated white glove resolution agent who assists with fraud remediation. The agent can set up three-way calls between you and your financial institutions.  They will also walk you through an action plan and be with you step-by-step until your case is resolved.

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when thieves steal a consumer’s personal information for purposes of defrauding others into believing that they are the consumer. There are several types of identity theft, including financial, Social Security, tax and medical. Ultimately, identity theft can result in major financial losses through stolen banking and credit card information or fraudulently opened accounts.

There are a number of red flags that may alert you should you become a victim of identity theft. Keep an eye out for:

• Unauthorized charges on credit or debit cards
• Missing funds or unauthorized withdrawals
• Getting locked out of email or social media accounts
• Denials for loan applications you didn’t submit
• Collection calls for accounts you didn’t open
• Confirmations or receipts for products you didn’t buy
• Unexpected decreases in your credit score
• Denial of a loan application due to an unexpectedly low credit score

How to Report Identity Theft to the FTC

If you think you may have fallen prey to a fraudster, start by reporting it to the FTC. Victims of identity theft can file a report via the FTC’s identity theft hotline, but filing an online report at IdentityTheft.gov is recommended. Follow these steps to report identity theft online:

1. Provide details about your situation. Visit the FTC’s identity theft website and click on “Get Started.” Select the type of identity theft you experienced and follow the online tool to provide your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, phone number, email address and other relevant information. Note that you can report up to five fraud incidents at a time.
2. Access your personalized recovery plan. Once you report your identity theft, the FTC generates a personalized recovery plan that lists steps to remediate the effects of the theft and mitigate future impacts. This may include downloading and printing forms and dispute letters to send to credit bureaus and lenders. You can also create an FTC account to track your progress, auto-fill forms and update your recovery plan as necessary.
3. Print report. Finally, print your FTC Identity Theft Report so you can provide a copy to police departments, credit bureaus and other financial institutions that may request copies.

The list of what to do after experiencing and reporting identity theft can be intimidating—and at a time when you’re already feeling vulnerable. Aura members receive White Glove customer support that walks them through the steps to take after experiencing identity theft or discovering their information has been compromised.

How to Report Identity Theft to the Police

Reporting identity theft to the police isn’t always necessary, but there are a few situations where it may be helpful. This is true where the victim knows the identity thief, where the victim has information that may be helpful in apprehending the thief or where an identity thief used the victim’s name in an interaction with the police—such as a traffic stop or arrest. It may also be necessary to report the theft to police if the victim’s credit card company or other financial institution requires a copy of a police report.

If it’s necessary to report your identity theft to the police, compile all of the documentation pertaining to the theft. According to the FTC, this documentation should include a copy of the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, your government-issued photo ID, proof of address, the FTC’s Memo to Law Enforcement and any other information related to the theft—credit card statements, data breach notifications, etc. Then, contact your local police department and tell them someone stole your identity and you need to file a report. Once the police report is finalized, request a copy.

Additional Places to Report Identity Theft

In addition to reporting identity theft to the FTC and police, there are several other entities you should contact to minimize the impacts of identity theft: Start by contacting the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian) and provide necessary documentation like the FTC Identity Theft Report. You can also contact the two lesser-known bureaus—Innovis and the National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange.

Likewise, reach out to credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions where you hold accounts to notify them of the breach. Finally, contact retailers and other companies where you have open accounts.

Reporting Specific Types of Identity Theft

Certain types of identity theft may warrant additional reporting. For example, if you experience medical identity theft and have Medicare, contact Medicare’s fraud office. Consumers who experience tax fraud or unemployment fraud should contact the IRS or state labor department, respectively. Your FTC recovery plan and Aura customer support agent can walk you through the best places to contact based on the type of identity theft you experience.

Other Steps to Take If Your Identity Is Stolen

Reporting identity theft is important, but it’s not the only thing you should do if your personal information is compromised. Take these steps in addition to reporting the identity theft:

• Freeze your credit. Placing a freeze on your credit reports prevents credit bureaus from releasing information in your report without your consent. This prevents lenders and other creditors from accessing your credit profile—and from opening new accounts without your express approval. To do so, contact each of the credit bureaus directly, or work with Aura to determine which accounts should be frozen. Also request that the credit bureaus place a fraud alert on your reports, which is something Aura can do on your behalf if you grant them power of attorney
• Change passwords and PINs. Online security and IT experts recommend changing your passwords and PINs at least once every three months. However, changing login credentials is particularly important if you are the victim of identity theft. Choose passwords that are unique, contain at least 12 characters and include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Then, use Aura’s password manager to receive notifications if a password is breached and automatically update passwords on select sites with a stronger alternative.
• Review all of your financial statements. If your personal information is stolen, more than one of your accounts may be compromised. Review your financial statements and contact all of your accounts, including everything from phone and utility companies to credit card companies and lenders. Cancel compromised accounts and open new accounts where necessary.
• Invest in identity protection services. If you fall prey to identity theft and haven’t already registered for a digital safety service, consider signing up for Aura. Not only can its team of specialists help you clean up the effects of identity theft, the service monitors the Dark Web to reduce the likelihood of it happening again.

Identity Theft Protection

The best approach to protecting your identity is stopping fraud in the first place. Choosing a platform like Aura means you’ll receive notifications when a suspicious credit inquiry or unauthorized account activity is detected—or if your information is found on the Dark Web.

Members get access to identity theft insurance*, a military-grade VPN to improve online security and protection for up to five members on one plan. If a user’s personal information is found online, Aura provides White Glove support as you notify the proper entities, change passwords and otherwise protect your accounts.

* Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.