What if identity theft happens to you

Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate.

The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site.

Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site.

While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Millions of Americans are at risk of identity theft every year, from common types of fraud such as online hacking, credit or debit card skimming or even the stealing of mail. Clearing your name and your credit report of fraudulent information can be tedious and overwhelming, but there are resources available to make sure you get stolen information sorted as quickly and easily as possible.

It leaves more for you to clean up. Early detection, which you can accomplish by regularly reviewing your statements and credit report, as well as signing up for alerts with your bank and creditors, can make it easier to repair any damage.

Get your free credit report from Bankrate to begin monitoring for any suspected fraudulent activity. If you do detect signs of identity theft, the time to take action is always sooner rather than later.

Here are 10 steps to take if you feel that you may have been a victim of identity fraud. Most credit cards have zero-liability policies and other protections for cardholders affected by identity theft. ATM or debit cards and electronic transfers from your bank account, on the other hand, fall under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Under the terms of this law, consumers must act fast. Reporting a lost or stolen ATM or debit card before any fraudulent transactions will let you off the hook for any charges made thereafter.

Reporting after 60 days can leave you with unlimited liability. Fraud alerts are free and, once placed, remain on your report for one year. An alert makes it difficult for fraudsters to open accounts in your name; businesses must contact you before issuing any credit when a fraud alert is on your report.

If nothing else, you can gain peace of mind. If you are a victim of identity theft, you can place an extended fraud alert on your report, lasting seven years. The FTC has free data security resources — including free publications, videos, and tutorials — to help businesses of any size protect their customers and meet their legal obligations. Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information.

Search form Search. Identity Theft. Share this page Facebook Twitter Linked-In. Recovering from Identity Theft Is someone using your personal information to open accounts, file taxes, or make purchases? Data Breach? Lost Info? More Identity Theft Resources.

Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection. What to Do if Identity Theft Happens to You If you learn that your identity has been stolen: First, report the crime to your local police immediately and ask them to issue a police report about the theft. Local law enforcement must accept the complaint, prepare a police report, give the victim a copy of the report, investigate the allegation and any other related violations and where necessary, coordinate investigations with other law enforcement agencies.

Keep a copy of your police report to share with your creditors. It may help in your dealings with the credit bureaus. Keep all documentation and log all telephone calls you make regarding the theft.