Be extra careful online. Much like New York City, the web is fantastic….but also a big and anonymous place where bad things can happen. Treat everyone suspiciously, including companies you currently work with
If it has happened to you, act fast.
If you do find out that you've been a victim of ID theft and/or fraud, there are some things you should take care of right away:
Call it in. Place a fraud report on your credit by contacting one of the three major consumer credit reporting agencies (Experian, Transunion and Equifax). Since you're already an aggrieved victim, the company you call is thankfully required to contact the other two so that you're covered. You're entitled to a free credit report from them, so ask for one—and review it carefully for anything suspicious. If there's something amiss, find out what to do here.
Let Five-O know. Contacting the police makes the theft official, and can help you down the line if things get more complicated. Find out where you local precinct is, and head down there to fill out the paperwork (which is surprisingly limited).
Keep an eye on things. The effects of ID theft can be felt well after the initial discovery, so monitor your credit report every few months for at least a year.
For more information on Identity theft and what you can do to prevent it, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft site.
Hollywood sidenote: If you have seen the movie Catch Me If You Can, you know how industrious (and successful) ID thieves can be. In real life, the protagonist of that film, Frank Abagnale, is the pre-eminent expert on fraud prevention. Check out his book Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan for more practical tips on keeping your ID to yourself.
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