 TITLE: How to Protect Your Identity During the Homebuying Process CONTENT: What to Do if You're a Victim of Identity Theft\n-----------------------------------------------\nIf you've already noticed signs of identity theft, it's crucial that you take steps immediately to address the issue. The longer a fraudster has access to your information, the more damage they can do. Here are some steps to help you get started:\n*   File a police report with your local police department, as well as an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission.\n*   Review your credit reports for accounts you don't recognize and consider filing a dispute with the credit bureaus to request to have them investigated.\n*   Add a fraud alert to your credit reports, which asks lenders to contact you in the future before issuing credit.\n*   If a thief has managed to steal your bank account, debit card or credit card information, contact your financial institution and alert them of the fraud so they can create a new account or card for you.\n*   Change your passwords to any of your important financial accounts, as well as your email account.\nThroughout this process, it's also important to continue to stay on top of your credit. You can get a free copy of your credit from all three credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also check your FICO® Score and credit reports for free directly through Experian. Even after you believe you've completely recovered from identity theft, stay vigilant in case your information is still out there. END