There have been a number of stories in the news recently concerning the problem of identity theft, and more and more people are wondering what can be done to combat this serious problem.  If you have not yet been a victim of identity theft, consider yourself lucky and take the steps necessary to steer clear of this growing problem.  If you are one of the many who has already been victimized, however, it is important to know how to recover from this devastating crime.It can of course be quite difficult for consumers to recover from the problem of identity theft.  Studies have shown that most victims of identity theft can expect to spend hundreds of hours, and hundreds of their hard earned dollars, just to recover their good name.  Even so, the results of this crime can linger for many years, and it is important for anyone who has been a victim of identity theft to keep tabs on their credit file for years to come.

If you do find yourself on the wrong end of an identity theft scam, take the following steps to recover your good name and your reputation.

• Be sure to report the crime immediately, both to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and to the credit reporting agencies. It is important to notify all three major reporting agencies - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - of the fraud right away. When reporting the fraud, also ask that a “fraud alert” be included as part of your file. This fraud alert will let anyone who looks at your credit report that there is possible fraud on the account.
• It is important to keep written copies of all correspondence, including emails, letters and all documents, in order to fully document your case. This file of hard copies will be very important in case a dispute arises later on.
• Make sure you immediately close any accounts that have been compromised due to fraud. Any accounts on which there is fraud should be closed right away, as should any accounts that may have been opened without your permission or knowledge. If you notice any open accounts you did not authorize, be sure to contact the issuing bank right away and have the account closed.
• Be sure to file a police report in order to document the identity theft. It is important to file a police report in order to protect your rights and document your case.

Recovering from identity theft is never an easy or a fast process, but the sooner you begin the process the sooner you can begin to recover your good name and your good reputation.  It is important to fully document every step of your recovery from identity theft in order to protect your rights and avoid future hassles.