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If you are hit by a data breach or ID theft:

While there is no foolproof way to ensure that our information is safe, there are some steps we can take to protect ourself from identity theft. 

1. If fraudulent charges occur - call the companies where the fraud may have occurred. See sample template letter below that  we can use from the Washington state attorney’s general office. 
2. Work with one of the credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) to check your credit report for suspicious activity and to place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit report.
3. Report the identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
4. File a report with your local police department.
5. Send a copy of the police report to the three major credit bureaus.

Ask businesses to provide you with information about transactions made in your name. A template for a letter you can complete and send to businesses to request records is available on the Attorney General’s Office website at: https://www.atg.wa.gov/db-letter

If you receive a breach notification or believe that you may be a victim of identity theft, please visit the Washington Attorney General’s website for help.