What should you do if you are a victim of identity theft or your is credit compromised?
Alert the credit bureaus.
Contact all of the major credit bureaus’ fraud departments. Be sure you have a fraud alert put on your account (it’s free).
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Fill out their online complaint form, or call 877.ID.THEFT (877.438.4338).
File a report with your local police department.
Take a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, a photo ID, proof of address, and any evidence you have of the theft with you.
Freeze your credit.
Consider placing a credit freeze on your profile. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to obtain new accounts in your name. Be aware, however, that you will need to lift the freeze on your credit file should you want to open a new deposit account or if you seek any type of loan (including credit cards). Each of the three credit bureaus offers a way for you to place and lift credit freezes online.
Get a copy of your credit report.
Visit annualcreditreport.com, or call 877.322.8228.
Enroll in credit monitoring.
Monitor your credit reports, and check for any new accounts you don’t recognize. If your information was part of a breach, the company responsible for exposing your information may offer free credit monitoring for which you can enroll.
For a step-by-step guide on how to handle specific identity theft scenarios like tax-related identity theft, misused Social Security Number, medical identity theft, etc., visit identitytheft.gov.