Identity theft is much more common than any of us would like to think. In 2014, 32 data records were lost or stolen every second! (source)
We have written about how to protect yourself in the past and recommend reading it again if it’s been a while. That said, sometimes no amount of protection can completely prevent identity theft.
Here are the first 3 things you should do if you suspect your identity has been stolen:
Lock down Your Account(s)
No matter how you discover your stolen identity, through a phone call from your bank or a database breach, the very first thing you need to do is lock down your problem account(s). Contact your financial institution and ask to either lock or close the account. You can usually roll the funds into another account or create a new one.
