What should I do if I find out my identity has been stolen?
If you find out your identity has been stolen in Washington State, it is important to take action as soon as possible. Immediately contact your financial institutions, such as banks and credit card companies. Let them know that your identity has been compromised and they should close any accounts that were opened in your name. Additionally, contact any creditors that may have been affected and report the theft. Next, you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This will help the FTC to track and investigate the theft of your identity. The FTC also provides resources to help you recover from identity theft. You can also reach out to the police and file a report. Additionally, you should check your credit report regularly for any potential fraudulent activity, such as accounts opened in your name. You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three main credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Finally, consider utilizing a credit monitoring service, such as a fraud alerts on your credit report, to help protect your information in the future. You can also use safe online practices to help reduce the risk of identity theft, such as avoiding clicking suspicious links and not giving out personal information online.
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