 TITLE: How Does Identity Theft Happen? CONTENT: What to Do if Your Information Has Been Compromised\n---------------------------------------------------\nThere's no surefire way to prevent identity theft entirely. So when it happens, it's important to know what to do to stop it before it gets worse.\nIf your credit or debit card has been lost or stolen, the first thing you should do is contact the issuer and report it. It will cancel the card and send you a new one in a few days.\nIf you think your Social Security number has been compromised, consider adding an initial fraud alert to your credit reports to prevent the thief from opening an account in your name.\nIf someone has already opened an account in your name, contact the creditor and file a police report, then request an extended fraud alert or credit freeze.\nThe sooner you react to potential or legitimate fraud, the easier it will be to clean up the mess. If you don't check your credit scores and online statements regularly, though, you could be a victim for months before you realize what's happening. The more attentive and intentional you are about protecting your information, the easier it will be to prevent fraud and address it quickly when it happens. END