First, remember that you are not alone. Help is available from several services and companies that will work hard to make sure that the identity thief does not get away with his or her crime and that you're able to recover your good name in as little time as possible.
As a first step, be sure to report the theft to your local police department, the credit reporting agencies, the Federal Trade Commission, as well as the individual bank or institution that the theft took place at.
To find contact information, web sites, and sample letters you can use, visit and read through our Consumer Tools and Resources section of this site.
Make sure that you keep copies of all correspondences with each of these agencies and keep records of everyone that you've spoken to throughout this process.
Make sure that you follow up with each of these agencies and that they have everything they need from you to find the thief and minimize the damage that can be done to your identity and credit.
