Notification

• Anyone who has experienced or suspects that he or she is a victim of identity theft must report it to the proper authorities. Start with local law enforcement and then call your existing creditors and let them know what has happened. Notify the Social Security Administration and Department of Motor Vehicles. Also call the Federal Trade Commission for advice. Consumers are also advised to cancel their credit cards so creditors may issue new cards and account numbers.
  
  Identify theft, however, is more than someone using your credit cards. With your private information, your medical privacy may be breeched, and passports, birth certificates or other documents may be forged using your name and information, which has far reaching ramifications.
  
  

Prevention

• Check with credit-report companies at least once a year to receive a free credit report. This will enable many individuals to spot suspicious activities involving credit-card loan applications, mortgage applications or auto loans. If you have been the victim of identify theft, save these reports to be used to help clear your name and financial history, or to be used in a court of law in the event that the thief is eventually caught and tried. Always do your best to hide your account PIN numbers and prevent others from watching you punch in your PIN at a store, bank or anywhere debit cards may be used.
  
  

Reclaim Your Identity

• Prepare to spend a lot of time on the phone, talking to various agencies. Keep records of whom you talk to, when the conversation takes place, and when possible, get a reference number for the telephone call. Speak with your local District Attorney or Attorney General if any crime is or has been perpetrated using your identity. The Internal Revenue Service can also help get you back in charge of your personal affairs in the event that you are a victim of ID theft, but it's important to contact them as soon as possible to inform them of what has happened. Be prepared to offer dates and other pertinent data that will be required, such as police reports and bank statements.