a.   Report it immediately at identitytheft.gov the U.S. government’s official recovery site. They’ll help you create a personalized recovery plan.

b.   Place a fraud alert on your credit reports by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

c.   Freeze your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.

d.   File a police report if needed—some creditors require it to clear fraudulent charges.

e.   Contact your bank and credit card companies to flag or close compromised accounts.

Bonus Tip: Keep a Paper Trail

Document every step you take—who you spoke to, when, and what was said. It’ll help if you need to dispute charges or prove your case later.