Full Notification

The Maricopa Police Department in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the United States Postal Inspection Services would like to share some tips, on how to prevent you from becoming a victim of credit and or ATM debit card fraud. There has been an increase in this type of crime not only locally but nationally. These events have made law enforcement and federal agency put together a joint effort to not only stop but help deter this criminal activity from occurring. Below you will find information on how to report fraud, and some tips to help prevent this type of crime from occurring.

Fraud protection practices include:

• Don’t give your account number to anyone on the phone unless you’ve made the call to a company you know to be reputable. If you’ve never done business with them before, do an online search first for reviews or complaints.
• Carry your cards separately from your wallet. It can minimize your losses if someone steals your wallet or purse, carry only the card you need for that outing.
• During a transaction, keep your eye on your card. Make sure you get it back before you walk away. Make sure a separate electric devise such as a cell phone or a card reader is not used by the cashier.
• Never sign a blank receipt. Draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
• Save your receipts to compare with your statement.
• Open your bills promptly — or check them online often — and reconcile them with the purchases you’ve made.
• Report any questionable charges to the respective credit card company.
• Notify your card issuer if your address changes or if you will be traveling.
• Don’t write your account number on the outside of an envelope.

Should you find yourself a victim of debit card fraud, act quickly:

•Contact the bank that issued the card immediately. Speak with a Claims Department representative; take good notes of names, dates and contact phone numbers. Ask the representative to verify the date and time your card was used.
•The bank should freeze your account; you may also want to close these accounts and open new ones.
•File a police report in the jurisdiction that the fraud occurred (for example, if you were traveling in another city and the fraud occurred in that city, you must file a report with the law enfacement agency in that city). Make sure to ask for a copy of the document as well as the report number. It is helpful for the police to have the vendor name, contact information and transaction date and time that the fraud occurred.
•Take lots of notes and keep a file specifically to document any reports; conversations, mail, email print outs and financial statements.
•Be proactive and follow up with anyone you are expecting a response from. Officers/Detectives may be handling several credit fraud cases at the same time.
•A preventative action to take should you become a victim of Credit, ATM or debit card fraud is to open an account separate from your main account; deposit living expenses for at least a month as well as a month’s worth of pay.
• Call the fraud units of the three principal credit reporting companies:

Equifax:
1. To report fraud, call (800) 525-6285 or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250.
2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241, or call (800) 685-1111.
3. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit, call (888) 567-8688 or write to Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta GA 30374-0123.

Experian (formerly TRW)
1. To report fraud, call (888) EXPERIAN or (888) 397-3742, fax to (800) 301-7196, or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013.
2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states): P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013, or call (888) EXPERIAN.
3. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O. Box 919, Allen, TX 75013.

Trans Union
1. To report fraud, call (800) 680-7289 or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.
2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064 or call: (800) 888-4213.
3. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (800) 680-7293 or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O. Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39238.

For information related to different types of fraud go to:

www.fakechecks.org or http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft