What you can do today to protect your identity & what to do if you’re a victim
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name and Social Security number, to either take over your current credit accounts or open new ones using your identity. An identity thief might also rent an apartment, take a job, or even commit crimes using your name, but the identity fraud generally involves using your good credit rating without your knowledge.

Simple ways to protect yourself
There’s no ironclad protection that guarantees that you’ll never fall victim to some form of identity theft. But there are steps you can take to shield your privacy, many of which are rather simple:

• Safeguard your credit cards just as you would cash.
• Reduce the number of cards you carry; just one or two are sufficient for everyday use.
• Keep a list of all of your credit cards, including account numbers, expiration dates, and issuer phone numbers, so that you can notify creditors quickly in case of theft or loss.
• Sign any new cards as soon as you receive them.
• Review your statements carefully each month to make sure all charges are accurate.
• Report billing errors and lost or stolen cards to your credit card issuer immediately.
• Destroy private records and statements. Shred credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, credit card receipts, copies of airline tickets, travel itineraries, and anything else that displays your credit card number before putting them in the trash. 
• Empty your mailbox quickly so criminals don’t have a chance to snatch credit card pitches. Consider locking your mailbox.
• If one of your credit card bills is late, call the card issuer’s customer service number immediately. Make sure that your bill has not been diverted to a different address.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, or any other card that may have your number. Don’t put your number on your checks. Leave your driver’s license number off your checks as well.
• Never leave ATM or gas station receipts behind.
• When making an online purchase, look in the lower right hand corner of your browser window. If you see the icon of a lock, that means you’re dealing with a secure site. If you don’t see one, you’ll be safer finding another merchant. Also, check out website privacy policies. Avoid sites that don’t specifically say that they won’t pass your name and information on to others.
• Stick to well-known retailers or sites that others have used to their satisfaction. Use only one credit card for online purchases. That way, if something amiss happens, it’ll be easier to spot on your bill.
• Be more protective of personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information such as a Social Security number or driver’s license is absolutely necessary. Ask anyone who does require your Social Security number — for instance, your insurance company -- what their privacy policy is and whether you can arrange for the organization not to share that information with anyone else.
• Check your credit report at least once a year to look for suspicious activity. If you spot something, alert your card company or the creditor immediately.
• Investigate credit bureau protection services. For instance, Equifax offers Credit Watch, which alerts you any time a change takes place with your credit report.

If you’re a victim
Again, protecting yourself from security fraud is no sure thing. But if you discover some wrongdoing here are your first four steps: 

Place a fraud alert

Equifax — To order a report: Call 1-800-685-1111 or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud: Call 1-800-525-6285 and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian — To order a report: Call 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud: Call 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013

TransUnion — To order a report: Call 800-916-8800 or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud: Call 1-800-680-7289 and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634

Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Credit Accounts — These include all accounts with banks, credit card companies and other lenders, as well and phone companies, utilities, Internet service providers and other service providers. Speak with someone from the security or fraud department of each creditor that has had an account tampered with, and follow up with a letter.

Checks — If your checks have been stolen or misused, notify your bank and close the account. You should also contact the following check verification companies. Ask that retailers who use their databases not accept your checks

Telecheck 1-800-710-9898

Certegy, Inc. 1-800-770-3792

Call Scan (1-800-262-7771) to find out if the identity thief has been passing bad checks in your name.

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Keep a copy of the report. You may need it to validate your claims to creditors. Be persistent; some local authorities may tell you that they can’t take a report. Stress the importance of needing the police report and that creditors require this to resolve your dispute.

File a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement track down identity thieves. The FTC also can refer victim complaints to other appropriate government agencies and companies for further action.

File a complaint by calling the FTC’s identity theft hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). 

If your driver's license or DMV-issued card was stolen, contact your local DMV office. You can also visit the DMV website at www.dmv.org for contact information by state.

If your Social Security number has been compromised you can call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.