Q: Hi. Got a letter from the Franchise Tax Board (CA). My SSN was compromised/used by someone else. How should I proceed?
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
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- Answered
A:
First, take immediate action by filing Form 3552 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the California Franchise Tax Board - this starts the official process of documenting and investigating the identity theft. You should also contact the IRS to file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) since your SSN has been compromised.
Next, file a police report and get a copy for your records - this creates an official document trail. Contact the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit reports and consider freezing your credit to prevent further misuse of your information.
Keep detailed records of all correspondence, including copies of the letters you receive and send, plus notes from any phone conversations with the FTB or other agencies. Stay in regular contact with the FTB's Criminal Investigation Bureau at (916) 845-4543 for updates on your case, and remember to check your credit reports frequently for any suspicious activity.
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