What steps should be taken after identity theft?

After you've filed a police report or filled out the ID theft complaint form from the Federal Trade Commission, you can put an extended fraud alert on your credit. The alert stays in effect for seven years. “Filing a fraud alert is probably the best step for someone who is unsure if they are a victim,” says Katz. read more

All Credit Sesame members get $50,000 in free identity theft insurance and live support through the process of identity restoration. 1. Put a fraud alert on your credit reports. A fraud alert puts a red flag on your credit report and notifies lenders and creditors that they should take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. read more

Securing a police report is of utmost importance. But not all states have legislated that local law enforcement must take a police report on identity theft from consumers. The FTC provides a cover letter to give to local law enforcement which stresses the importance of police reports for consumer victims. read more

This will serve as a lasting reminder for anyone who views your credit report, especially potential creditors, to watch out for signs of identity theft. Taking these steps should help make you a much harder target for identity thieves, but it’s important to remain vigilant nonetheless. read more