 TITLE: What to Know About the Effects of Identity Theft CONTENT: How Long Can It Take to Recover From Identity Theft?\n----------------------------------------------------\nThe recovery time for identity theft can vary widely, depending on the type of fraud that occurs. With credit card fraud, for instance, where someone uses your credit card without your permission but doesn't get access to more sensitive information, it may just be the amount of time it takes you to report it and get a new card in the mail.\nWith more serious forms of identity theft, however, it can take much longer. If someone steals your SSN to open a credit account in your name, for instance, it can take months to work with the creditor and credit reporting agencies to dispute it and prove it wasn't you.\nAnd if someone manages to use your identity to incur tax debt and commit other crimes and major violations, it could take years of work to undo the damage. END