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What to Do if Your Identity Has Been Stolen

In the event that your identity has been is stolen, you need to act swiftly to stop any further damage and repair your credit.  Here is what to do if your identity has been stolen:
  1. You should file a police report as soon as possible.  This gives you certain legal rights when reporting the identity theft to creditors or credit agencies.
  2. Contact all three credit bureaus and place them on fraud alert.  A fraud alert prevents someone else from opening "instant credit" in your name.
  3. Notify your creditors of the suspected identity theft and close any accounts that have been opened fraudulently, as well as any accounts that have been tampered with.
  4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. They use complains to track patterns of fraud, and can help them identify and prosecute identity thieves.
  5. Consider requesting a credit freeze from the three credit bureaus.  A credit freeze puts your credit on "lock down" so nobody (including you) can open credit in your name.   


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Laws on this topic may vary from state to state. This content is not meant to provide you with complete information and it is not intended to be legal or tax advice. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.