Sometimes an identity thief can strike even if you've been very careful about keeping your personal information to yourself. If you suspect that your personal information has been hijacked and misappropriated to commit fraud or theft, take action immediately, and keep a record of your conversations and correspondence. Exactly which steps you should take to protect yourself depends on your circumstances and how your identity has been misused. However, four basic actions are appropriate in almost every case:

Place a fraud alert on your credit reports

Close any account that has been tampered with or opened fraudulently

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

There are also some additional steps you can take to protect yourself.