Vermont state resources for personal identity theft protection
Note: These resources are specifically designed to address personal identity theft prevention and incidents of consumer identity theft. Because most state and federal identity theft and consumer protection laws are designed to protect individual consumers, businesses generally do not enjoy the same rights, protections, and potential recourse as consumers. Therefore, while helpful in addressing many issues that you may face as an individual, be aware that consumer identity theft information may not be applicable to an incident of business identity theft or fraud.
Vermont Attorney General identity theft website (for personal protection)
Learn how to protect your personal credit
Business identity thieves often use the identity information (and credit) of the business owner or company officers to open new accounts, or as guarantors of fraudulent loans and lines of credit. In addition to taking actions to protect your business, it is also important to protect yourself as well. This section provides detailed explanations of important consumer credit protection tools that are available to help protect your personal credit from identity thieves.
Use the links below to learn what these tools are, how they work, and how to use them to help protect your personal credit.
Tools & Resources to Protect Your Personal Credit:
Review, Manage, and Protect Your Vermont Business Filings
If your business does not regularly review your state business filings, file your annual reports in a timely manner, or enroll in email alerts or other preventative systems that may be offered by your state, you may unknowingly attract the unwanted attention of business identity thieves.
Business Identity Theft has become a growing concern for business owners and corporate entities who rely on their identity to obtain credit, and working capital. Here in the Vermont Secretary of State’s office we are addressing those concerns through a three pronged approach 1) technology, 2) legislation, and 3) education.
Over the next year we will be updating our Business Services IT system to allow for greater security controls and robust notification protocols for entity related changes. We will be doing a 360 review of current legislation, and making recommendations to tighten controls and close loopholes. Lastly, we will be offering the business community a clear path to the resources available to prevent and deal with business ID theft when it occurs.
Sincerely,
Jim Condos
Vermont Secretary of State
NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force member
Review and Protect Your Business Credit Reports
Business identity thieves can manipulate or falsify business credit records and then use these to impersonate your business, or as a part of a fraud scheme to target your business. To combat this, you should periodically review your business credit reports and the information that is being reported.
Contact the business credit reporting agencies:
Report and Correct Fraudulent Vermont Business Filings
In Vermont, if your state business records have been fraudulently changed or updated, contact the Vermont Secretary of State Division of Corporations to report and correct fraudulent business filings. Contact information is provided below.
Please note that you should only contact the Vermont Secretary of State Division of Corporations for business identity theft incidents involving fraudulent business records. Upon receipt and review of such a written notification, if the Division determines that potential business identity fraud has occurred, it will refer the file to the Vermont Attorney General for further review and investigation.
All other types of business identity theft incidents and related fraud should be reported directly to law enforcement. Also review the Business Identity Theft Victim Action List for other important steps to take.
Vermont Credit Security Freeze
Vermont enacted its own state law establishing the availability of credit security freezes for its citizens. The three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) have also voluntarily made security freezes available to all Vermont state citizens. Innovis voluntarily allows consumers in all states to freeze their Innovis credit files.
Eligibility: All consumers
Credit Security Freeze Fees: Per credit bureau. To be effective, you should place a freeze at each credit bureau
• No cost for confirmed identity theft victims to place a freeze (with a copy of a police report or a DMV report)
• All others must pay $10.00 to place a freeze
• There is a $5.00 fee to temporarily lift the freeze, or to remove it entirely
• The freeze will remain in place until you remove it
To Place a Credit Security Freeze in Vermont:
• Experian security freeze website
• Equifax security freeze website
• TransUnion security freeze website
• Innovis security freeze website
Report Business Identity Theft to Vermont Law Enforcement
In Vermont, if your business is a victim of business identity theft, you should report the crime to your local law enforcement agency, or the Vermont State Police, as applicable. In some cases, you may also file a complaint with the Vermont Office of the Attorney General. In the case of fraudulent business filings, the Vermont Secretary of State Division of Corporations may also report or escalate to law enforcement as appropriate.
Be certain to also review the Business Identity Theft Victim Action List for other important steps to take.
Vermont State Police
Main website: www.vsp.vermont.gov
Find your nearest Vermont State Police barracks or station
State of Vermont - Office of the Attorney General
Vermont Attorney General consumer website
File a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General Consumer Assistance Program
Vermont AG Consumer Assistance Program Hotline: (800) 649-2424 (toll free in Vermont) or (802) 656-3183
Mailing address:
Vermont Attorney General's Office
Consumer Assistance Program
146 University Place
Burlington, Vermont 05405
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State of Vermont Department of Public Safety
Vermont Department of Public Safety website