Steps to Take If You Think You Are a Victim of Identity Theft

Becoming a victim of identity theft is a very unpleasant experience. Many victims don't even know what to do. If you become a victim of identity theft there are some steps you should follow to get you on the right path to recovery. These steps should be performed as soon as you realize someone has used your identity. The sooner you act the sooner you can stop the damage and prevent any further damage.

Contact the Police: Contact law enforcement officials and file a police report. Be sure to get a copy of the police report, the police report number, and the investigators name. Many banks, credit card companies and other agencies that you will need to contact will require this information as proof of a crime.

Contact the Three Major Credit Bureaus:

Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to let them know you have been a victim of identity theft and have them place a "fraud alert" on your credit report. The alerts tell creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. Fraud alerts expire, so be sure and ask how long it will be in effect and how to extend if needed.

Close Accounts: Close any accounts that you know are fraudulent or have been tampered with.

Report the Theft to the Federal Trade Commission: This report helps law enforcement officials across the country in their investigations.

Inspect Your Credit Report and Financial Statements: Review your credit report and financial statements, look for any more fraud the identity thieves may have done.

By following these steps you can hopefully restore your identity and good name. Becoming a victim of identity theft can be a real burden, but the earlier it is addressed the easier it is to fix.

Some signs that you have become a victim of identity theft:

Bills do not arrive as they usually do
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denial of credit for no apparent reason
Phone calls or letters about purchases you never made

Jason Shafer is an ID Theft Specialist with SOLUS Identity Theft Protection. Your identity is your most valuable asset. To learn more about identity theft and identity theft protection please visit http://www.solusid.com

Read more by visiting our blog at http://www.oneidproblog.com

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