 TITLE: What to Know About the Effects of Identity Theft CONTENT: How to Recover From Identity Theft Faster\n-----------------------------------------\nThe time it takes to recover from identity theft not only depends on the severity of the fraud, but also on how quickly you spot it and the time and effort you put into addressing it. Here are some tips to help:\n*   **Learn to recognize the signs**: It's not always possible to find out how the thief gained access to your information, but signs that the fraud has occurred can include notifications of unauthorized purchases, incorrect information on your credit reports, denial of credit, unexpected credit card, loan or tax bills, and a failed background check. If any of these happen, take it seriously.\n*   **Get help**: Taking down a criminal on your own may sound Hollywoodesque, but you're better off enlisting the help of people who have the right tools. For starters, report the crime to local law enforcement, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission. Also, request assistance through Experian, one of the other credit reporting agencies (Equifax or TransUnion), or an identity theft protection service.\n*   **Add a fraud alert or freeze your credit reports**: You may be able to stop an identity thief in their tracks by restricting their ability to use your SSN to open new credit accounts. With a fraud alert, creditors will typically flag any application with your SSN and call a number you provide in the alert to verify your identity. A credit freeze, on the other hand, stops all creditors from being able to view your credit reports entirely.\n*   **Don't let up**: Reporting identity theft is just the first step of the process. As you work with creditors, the police and credit reporting agencies, it's critical that you be your best advocate and stay on top of the process until it's resolved. END