Maybe you never charged those items, but someone else did someone who used your name and personal information to commit fraud. When an imposter co-opts your name, your Social Security number, your credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their use - in short, when someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge - it's a crime, pure and simple.

The biggest problem? You may not know your identity's been stolen until you notice that something's amiss: you may get bills for a credit card account you never opened, your credit report may include debts you never knew you had, a billing cycle may pass without your receiving a statement, or you may see charges on your bills that you didn't sign for, didn't authorize, and don't know anything about.

First Things First

First, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus. Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert including a statement that creditors should call you for permission before they open any new accounts in your name.

• Equifax

• (888) 525-6285
• (800) 685-1111
• www.equifax.com

• Experion

• (888) 397-3742
• (888) 397-3742
• www.experion.com

• Trans Union

• (800) 680-7289
• (800) 916-8800
• www.tuc.com

Second

Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Ask to speak with someone in the security or fraud department, and follow up in writing.