What are the steps to take if one’s identity has been stolen?

If your identity is stolen, here are the steps you should take:

1. Contact the Police: Report the crime to the police immediately. They will provide you with a report that can be useful when dealing with creditors.

2. Contact Credit Reporting Agencies: Notify all three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports to prevent any new accounts from being opened without your permission.

3. Contact Financial Institutions: Contact your bank and credit card companies to report the identity theft. They can freeze your accounts and issue you new cards to prevent further unauthorized transactions.

4. Review Your Accounts: Check all your bank, credit card, and other financial accounts for any unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity to the respective institutions.

5. File a Report with the FTC: Visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website and file an Identity Theft Report. This report can help you when disputing fraudulent accounts and transactions.

6. Contact the IRS: If you suspect your identity theft may impact your taxes, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit.

7. Monitor Your Credit: Regularly monitor your credit reports for any new accounts or inquiries that you did not authorize.

8. Consider Freezing Your Credit: You may choose to freeze your credit reports to prevent any new accounts from being opened in your name.

9. Update Your Passwords: Change all your online account passwords, especially for financial