 TITLE: What Is Familiar Fraud and How It Can Affect Your Family? CONTENT: What to Do if You Experience Familiar Fraud\n-------------------------------------------\nReacting sooner rather than later can help prevent further damage. Here are some helpful tips for overcoming identity theft:\n*   **Protect your credit.** If you haven't already done so, now is the time to establish a security freeze or fraud alert. This action can help put a stop to the fraud and prevent more abuse.\n*   **Report the fraud.** While this may feel difficult if the perpetrator is a family member or friend, it's still wise to report the fraud to the appropriate law enforcement agency as it's a criminal act. Beyond that, you can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. Here you'll also find recovery resources and step-by-step guidance for setting things right.\n*   **Dispute fraudulent charges.** \"Be sure to contact the companies where the fraud happened and the three credit bureaus,\" Velasquez says. The latter is especially important as each has its own process for disputing information on your credit reports that you believe to be inaccurate or fraudulent. END