Last week we talked about various ways that a person’s identity could possibly be stolen. This week we will be talking about what to do if it does end up happening to you. Identity theft is on the rise, and with the economy not at it’s greatest point as it has ever been, then there is an increased possibility that it could happen to you.
It seems as though identity theft is happening left and right, and even the littlest things can be hard to remedy if you don’t try enough. Knowing the correct steps can really help you out!
Whatever happened to you, whether it be someone charged something on your credit card, someone opened a mortgage in your name (like me) or someone stole your whole identity and is living your life, there are basic steps that you must take. Of course with bigger cases, then there are more things that must be done, and the process is usually longer because there is more money involved and banks usually do not cover everything.
Below are some basic things you will want to do:
1. Call your bank or credit card company.
If someone stole your credit card or bank information, be sure to call your bank or credit card company AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that you can get it all straightened out. I’ve had my credit card information skimmed a couple of times, and my bank luckily always refunds me the full amount. Not all banks do this, so make sure you check your transactions as frequently as possible.
Since my credit card information has been skimmed so many times, now whenever I make a purchase that is over $400, I have to have the cashier call my credit card company to verify that it’s a real purchase. It is a pain, but luckily I don’t spend $400 on one purchase too often 
2. Call the credit bureaus.
Call the three major credit bureaus and have them place a flag or fraud alert on yourself. This is so that if anyone tries applying for something that requires credit (such as a new credit card, car loan, mortgage, etc.) then the company will have to go through extra steps in order to issue any credit to yourself. It never hurts to stay extra safe!
You can also place a freeze on your credit as well so that no one can issue your credit to your identity.
3. Watch your information.
Now that your identity and information has been compromised, make sure you keep an eye out of your information. Watch your incoming mailbox and make sure nothing is stolen. Also, check on your bank and credit card accounts often and make sure all transactions are correct.
Also, keep an eye on your credit report as well. Read through them thoroughly to make sure that nothing wrong has been added because of the person who stole your identity. If something is wrong on your credit report, remember to get it fixed as soon as possible so that it does not hurt your credit score or be any further harmful in your life.
4. File a police report.
And last but not least, make sure you file a report at a police station. Tell them everything you know and anything that might happen as a result of your identity being stolen. Remember to not leave any details out. Keep all information related to this as you will most likely need it later if the person who stole your identity is found.
Great ideas here. I think many of people aren’t aware of the proper steps to take if your identity has been stolen. There are SO many ways your personal information can be used against you. Identity theft protection is nearly a must these days.