| Actors Kevin Kostner and Martin Sheen aren’t the only ones who’ve been helped by the Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD) of TransUnion LLC, a leading provider of credit and financial data. Since its 1992 launch, the FVAD has aided thousands of consumers in resolving or preventing problems with credit fraud. Credit fraud can disrupt anyone’s purchasing power because it remains on credit reports until detected and resolved.
TransUnion’s FVAD can help resolve and prevent fraud by working directly with creditors and advising consumers on how to remove fraudulent activity from their credit report.
“Consumer awareness and cooperation of credit agencies are crucial to deterring such fraud and safeguarding credit histories,” says Diane Terry, director of TransUnion’s Fraud Victim Assistance Department. “With a staff of more than 100 highly trained experts, TransUnion’s FVAD is a dedicated resource that provides one-on-one service to the victims of credit fraud.”
But FVAD also works hand-in-hand with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The department has actively participated in many major investigations, some of which have led to high profile arrests and convictions.
Here are a few facts about credit fraud and the FVAD:
• The FVAD receives almost 3,500 calls and 400 pieces of mail per day. Half of these are proactive inquiries, usually individuals reporting stolen or lost credit cards. However, about 35 percent of the inquiries involve a combination of account takeover and identity theft.
• The number of credit fraud cases is decreasing, but the crimes themselves are bolder, increasingly the work of organized groups.
• More than 50 percent of consumer relations disputes received by TransUnion are credit repair in origin.
The FVAD works to prevent credit fraud and partners with consumers to resolve cases and restore their credit files. Victims of credit fraud are urged to contact the FVAD by calling (800) 680-7289 if they feel they may be at risk. | 
