Every year millions and millions of people have their identity stolen. To be a victim of identity theft is stressful and devastating. Being in an identity theft situation is always nerve-racking. Most importantly, we need to protect proof of identity for many essential parts of adulthood like buying a home, buying a car, and opening a credit card to mention a few. When push comes to shove and you become the victim of identity theft what guidelines will you follow. The good news is that the guide below will talk about identity theft protection and the right steps to take when you fall victim, read more here.
The first essential step is to let your creditors and banks know. Many banks and even creditors will take the necessary protection measures once they know that you as their cardholder have been victimized. Also, by contacting your creditors and bank right away, they will communicate the policies and protection actions they will take, and this way you will know what to anticipate the this info.
It will be important to also freeze your active credit. The moment you realize you are in an identity theft situation and have fallen victim to online fraud or credit fraud the best move is to freeze your credit. It helps lock all that information away which will prevent agencies from giving your credit report to other creditors. You will be requested to come up with a new pin that will be needed when it comes to lifting the freeze later so make sure you keep track of all the information to avoid delays in the future. It is advisable to place both fraud alarm and freeze your credit as this will offer s much more protection than doing just one.
Suppose you fall prey to identity theft it is will be wise to report the case to the federal trade commission and your lawyer. Contact the federal trade commission online or via phone and let them your identity has been stolen, check this site. The federal trade commission will do a great job at proving your identity has been stolen and provide a helpful recovery plan. A smart move will be to keep the copy of both the items available to you as you go to talk to the police, banks, and creditors. Additionally, contacting a lawyer will be important at this point. Make sure you choose a reputable lawyer. To close, these are crucial steps you should take once you realize your identity has been stolen.