Virginians Have New Tool to Protect Themselves Against Identify Theft

Source: AARP.org

Under a new state law passed with the strong support of AARP Virginia, consumers have an additional tool to fight identify theft.

The new law allows individuals to restrict access to their credit report and lock out anyone seeking to open an account or fraudulently establish new credit in their name.

When a consumer places a freeze on their credit report, a credit agency is prohibited from releasing the credit report, or any information in it, without the consumer’s specific authorization.

Since July 1, Virginia residents wishing to place a freeze on their credit files may do so by sending a request and paying a $10 fee to each of the three major credit reporting agencies.  No fees will be charged to victims of identity theft who submit a valid police report with their freeze request.  Once the freeze is in place, the consumer will receive a personal identification number (PIN) from the credit reporting agency.  The PIN can then be used to remove the freeze on a temporary or permanent basis.

Although placing a security freeze on a credit report is an effective tool to combat the effects of identity theft, Virginia's Office of Consumer Affairs cautions consumers that they will need to plan ahead to ensure timely processing of their legitimate credit applications.  It may take the credit reporting agencies up to three business days to lift the security freeze and allow the processing of valid credit requests for items such as mortgages, credit cards, wireless phones, vehicle loans, rental housing and utilities authorizations.

Consumers should also be aware that certain creditors, prospective employers, law enforcement, child support agencies, tax authorities and other government agencies may continue to access credit reports for legitimate reasons even though the reports may have a security freeze in place.   To learn more about placing a security freeze on your credit report, contact each credit reporting agency separately.  The contact information is listed below.

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA  30348
Phone:  1.800.525.6285

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX  75013
Phone:  1.888.397.3742

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Dept.
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA  92834
Phone:  1.800.680.7289