I hope you enjoyed last night’s (January 7, 2001) program on Identity Theft. I found it very informative. If you missed it, it was recorded. Please contact Aaron List for how to view the recorded program.
I have attached materials (click here for materials) from Melanie Hazim’s unit on how to spot and avoid scams. If you have any questions for her that we were not able to reach last night, you can email Ms. Hazim at HazimM@dca.njoag.gov.
At the bottom of this email are links to various sites where you can obtain additional information on this subject.
Also, it appeared as if participants from last night were interested in how to freeze their credit. The big three credit bureaus are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. You are entitled to request a free credit report from each during each year. You should request and review your report to make sure that it reflects your, and only your, credit history.
To freeze your credit (which does not affect your credit rating), call:
- Equifax – 1-800-349-9960 or go to http://Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
- TransUnion – 1-888-909-8872
- Experian – 1-888-397-3742 or mail a request to Experian Security Freeze, PO Box 9554, Allen, Texas, 75013.
You may need to create a password. If so, be sure you put that password somewhere safe as you will need it in order to unfreeze your credit. If you will be applying for a loan (car, mortgage, student, etc.) or for a new credit card, you will need your credit unfrozen.
It is free to freeze your credit (based upon a law passed in 2018).
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/FightingFraud/Documents/Ten-Red-Flags-That-It-Might_Be-A-Scam.pdf
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Pages/consumerbriefs.aspx
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/Fighting-Phone-Fraud.pdf#search=nomorobo
Regards,
Ellen