Whether you have our solution or not, here are some immediate steps you can take:
1. Lock down the problem account | If you know where the theft occurred, contact the organization, dispute the charges and ask to lock or close the account.
2. Sign up for a credit monitoring service if it is available to you | If you receive a breach alert, read it carefully. If it includes an offer of free credit monitoring, sign up.
3. Read credit card and bank statements to look for unauthorized charges | Review your active, dormant and infrequently used accounts. If you see anything amiss, contact your financial institution and work with them to safeguard your account.
4. Request a credit report from all three major reporting agencies | You’re entitled to at least one free credit report from each agency (TransUnion®, Experian® and Equifax®) per year, which you can request at the official site, AnnualCreditReport.com. Review your reports to look for any accounts you don’t recognize, which could indicate potentially fraudulent activity.  
5. Contact the Federal Trade Commission | To file a report for a stolen identity, visit IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338). For credit card fraud, in which only a single account was compromised, an FTC report may not be warranted.
6. Call your local police department to file a report | Notify your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Have your identity theft report from the FTC on hand when you do so. The police report will be an important document to have when dealing with banks, credit agencies and potential bill collectors.
7. Request fraud alerts from the three major credit bureaus | Contact one of the national credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your file. This alert will make it more difficult for new credit applications to be accepted without additional verification. The notice stays on your record for one year, giving you time to work on clearing your name. You can also renew the alert once the initial year is up.
For an added layer of protection, you can freeze your credit, which blocks all third parties whose use is not exempt under law from accessing your credit report. This can reduce the chance that a new account can be opened in your name. It’s free to freeze and unfreeze your credit, and it won’t affect your credit score.
8. Implement the following preventative security measures | Adopt these proven protective habits:
- Create strong passwords and use unique passwords for each account — do not use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Shred documents with personal information when disposing them.
- Keep personal information (i.e. address, phone number, etc.) off social media sites, as well as any details you use for online security questions, like your mother’s maiden name.
- Avoid carrying your Social Security card in your wallet.