Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years and thousands of dollars cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing, or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

Working with other government agencies and organizations, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has produced this Identity Theft Recovery Plan booklet to help you remedy the effects of an identity theft. It describes what steps to take, your legal rights, how to handle specific problems you may encounter on the way to clearing your name, and what to watch for in the future.

Also, visit IdentityTheft.gov for the most up-to-date information. The site provides detailed advice to help you fix problems caused by identity theft, along with the ability to:

• get a personal recovery plan that walks you through each step
• update your plan and track your progress
• print pre-filled letters & forms to send to credit bureaus, businesses, and debt collectors
• report it to the Federal Trade Commission