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Identity theft can strike anyone at any time and the damage done by thieves in just one hour can take months, or even years, to resolve. In fact, approximately 8.5 million people were victims of identity fraud in 2007. Watch this video clip to make sure you know how to protect yourself against identity theft and, if you've fallen victim, the steps you need to take to recover. Access all the material referenced in this video and more here.

 

 

Identity Theft Video Transcript

You're a respectable person - you pay your bills on time, you've never missed a mortgage payment, and you don't abuse your credit cards.

Then one day your checks bounce, your credit cards are declined or you're turned down for a loan, leaving you to ask the question, "What happened?

Identity theft can strike anyone at any time. In fact, approximately 8.5 million people were victims of identity fraud in 2007. The damage done by thieves in just one hour can take months to resolve.

It literally takes only seconds for a thief to grab your personal information. And in most cases, thieves steal information without even breaking into our homes. So, what can you do right now to protect yourself against identity theft?

• Review your credit report annually.
• Shred or destroy unwanted documents that contain personal information.
• Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Memorize your SSN, passwords and PIN numbers - don't keep this information in your wallet.
• Never give out personal information over the phone or the Internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Easily available information such as your birth date or phone number should never be used for PINs or passwords.

But, what if it's too late, and your identity has already been stolen? Take action immediately!

• Contact the fraud departments of the major credit reporting bureaus and request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit file.
• Close accounts that have been tampered with and open new ones with new PINs and passwords.
• Be sure to file a police report.
• Contact your bank if your personal checks have been lost, stolen or misused.
• Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud HotLine if you suspect that someone else is using your number.

If you are a victim of identity theft, or if you have been accused of committing a crime as the result of having your identity stolen, you may want to contact an attorney who is familiar with identity theft. Need help finding a lawyer? Visit the "Find a Lawyer" section on lawyers.com.

Have questions about other life events? Then go to the Life Events section on lawyers.com for more helpful video tips.