Top 5: Things to Do if Your Identity is Stolen

It is a frightening experience to get a call that tells you your identity has been co-opted and used in an unlawful way. There are different kinds of identity theft, but they all leave you feeling violated and vulnerable. This happens a lot in this day and age and companies are more prepared than ever to ease your burden. Often, credit card companies will send you a new credit card at the first sign of fraud and remove any unwanted charges. If the worst case scenario happens and a thief has accessed your personal information and opened a credit card, bank account, or utility in your name, more drastic measures need to be taken. Here is what you can do.

File a Report

Call the police and file a report. This is a crime just like your house being robbed or being mugged on the street. They are kind and will walk you through this process and recommend next steps.

Contact the FTC

Open a file with the Federal Trade Commission and fill out an affidavit. This may seem extreme, but you want to prove you have taken these steps to protect yourself from any future fraud.

Contact Banks

Contact all banks and credit card companies to let them know this has happened so they can be extra vigilant with regard to any strange charges or activity on your account.

Credit Monitoring

Sign up for a credit-monitoring alert through Equifax; these sometimes have hidden fees so be careful, but the sense of security is worth some version of this. They will alert you any time there is activity.

Don’t Panic

Most importantly, don’t panic. It will be okay, take these steps and move forward.