Recently, TJ Maxx sent customers throughout the United States letters informing them that their personal information may have been compromised.

Some of the letters also identified a relatively small number of related driver's license numbers from customers who returned merchandise without receipts.

The correspondence directs customers to contact their local Secretary of State office to ask that a fraud alert be placed on their driver's licenses.

It is important to emphasize:

• Individuals placing an alert on their driving records will be required to provide sufficient proof of identity if stopped for a traffic violation.
• Michigan's driver license fraud alert does not protect citizens from credit card fraud. Individuals that believe that they are impacted are urged to obtain free copies of their credit reports annually provided under federal law. Consumers may call TJ Maxx's toll-free special assistance number, 866-484-6978, for more information.

The driver license alert form is available at the Secretary of State's web site. Requests for a fraud alert on your Michigan driver's license must include the driver's name, driver license number, the reason for the request, and the licensee's signature.

Precautionary Steps

Consumers who shopped at TJ Maxx stores are advised to take precautions to protect themselves:

• Carefully review checking account, debit card, and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Open statements promptly and compare the receipts to the billing statements.
• Using online accounts may provide faster access to transaction information, and consumers may wish to contact the issuer of the payment card to ask whether the card number was compromised and inquire about security options, such as password protection.
• If any unauthorized or suspicious checking account or payment card use is detected, contact the credit card issuer or issuing bank immediately. By law, consumers will have no liability for unauthorized use if a credit card number has been stolen, even if the card itself has not been stolen.
• Review the Michigan Attorney General's comprehensive Consumer Alert titled, "Free Annual Credit Reports - What Consumers Should Know."

Copies are available from the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by mail, phone, or online. To contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by mail:

Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P. O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909.

For more information, visit the Attorney General's Web site by going to www.michigan.gov/ag.

• For more advice on steps to take when reacting to identify theft, call the Federal Trade Commission's toll-free ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338) or visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Reporting Fraud

To report fraud to credit agencies, contact the following businesses:

• Equifax - 
  Call: 1-800-525-6285; and
  Write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
• Experian -
  Call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); and
  Write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013
• TransUnion -
  Call: 1-800-680-7289); and
  Write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division
  P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
• Check Clearing
  Telecheck 
  800-926-5678

These agencies can place an alert their systems to protect consumers against further fraudulent activity. There also may be additional credit reporting services in the yellow pages of the telephone directory.

Obtain a free credit report

Obtain a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus at www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling toll-free 877-322-8228. By law, consumers are entitled to one free annual report from each credit bureau. Carefully review these reports for indications of fraud. The free annual credit report is provided only through the Web site or toll-free number. Do not call the three credit bureaus individually.

Other valuable resources

Review the Michigan Attorney General's comprehensive Consumer Alert titled, "Free Annual Credit Reports - What Consumers Should Know."

Copies are available from the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by mail, phone, or online. To contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division by mail:

Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P. O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909.

For more information, visit the Attorney General's Web site by going to www.michigan.gov/ag.