 TITLE: What You Can Do to Avoid Identity and Credit Fraud CONTENT: What to Do if You Believe You're a Victim of Fraud\n--------------------------------------------------\nIf you believe you are a victim of fraud, there are steps you can take to protect your credit, and Experian is available with help and advice, including step-by-step instructions with steps to take for recovery.\nAmong the first steps to take if you believe your credit or finances have been compromised is to safeguard your credit so criminals can't apply for loans or credit cards in your name. Tools for this include:\n*   **Fraud alerts**: A fraud alert asks lenders who view your credit report to verify your identity before processing a credit application or issuing credit in your name.\n*   **Credit freezes**: A credit freeze, or security freeze, restricts access to your credit file until you remove, or \"thaw,\" the freeze. END