Tip of the Week - March 1, 2016 - Know What to do When Identity Thieves Strike

Identity theft continues to rank among the top consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  The FTC received 3 million complaints in 2015 - most of them regarding debt collection, identity theft or imposter scams.

Finding that your identity has been stolen can by a nerve wracking experience. Knowing what to do, can help relieve some of the anxiety.  The FTC has a personal identity theft recovery plan that walks victims through each recovery step complete with pre-fill letters and forms.   Know what to do right away and what to do after that by checking out their website, IdentityTheft.gov.

"It's very frightening when your identity has been stolen and someone is using your good name and your good credit," said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Foundation Chairman Kenny Ehrman. "Getting it all straightened out can take time and patience.  Knowing what to do immediately and knowing the follow-up steps can put victims on a smoother  road to recovery."