Identity details online - what now

June 15, 2012 4:18 PM

Identity theft - passport number, date of birth and full name available on the internet. What do I do?

My unique name means that every so often I google myself to check my online profile. Today I found my full name, DOB and passport number online associated with the removalists I used to relocate to the USA a few months ago. It's a Chinese site so I am pretty sure they didn't come by the info legitimately. Do I need to be worried about identity theft and what should I do? For instance, I am pretty sure that this is all the info anyone needs to get hold of my SSN.

posted by anonymous to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Call the US Department of State's National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778
They'll answer the phone until 10pm ET tonight.

Further instructions here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_848.html
posted by carsonb at 4:37 PM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

There's a link on the page I linked above called Information on Compromised Identities, which says in full:

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website, www.ftc.gov, and the FBI's website, www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html, are good sources for information on identity theft and provide lists of government and private agencies to contact to report complaints. Both sites also provide good information for consumers to minimize their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. The FTC enters the information into a secure consumer fraud database.

The FBI website recommends victims contact their local law enforcement and request a report be provided to the FBI's identity theft database. This database contains descriptive records and other information that law enforcement personnel can use to determine if an individual is a victim of identity theft, or if the individual might be using a false identity.

If you would like to report the fraudulent use of your identity, call the FTC Identity Theft Hotline:

1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or visit www.consumer.gov

For more information, also see the FBI's website.

This is assuming you're a U.S. Citizen.
posted by carsonb at 4:45 PM on June 15, 2012

I take that last part back; it doesn't matter what your cititizenship is. If you're in the US call 1-877-438-4338 for more info.
posted by carsonb at 6:35 PM on June 15, 2012