If you are a victim, take these steps immediately:
* Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, ask for a free copy of your credit report, and review those reports for evidence of accounts you didn't open.  Call the office and we will be happy to guide you through all the steps to take.

             Fraud unit contacts are:
             Equifax 800-525-6285
             Experian 888-397-3742
            TransUnion 800-680-7289

* Close accounts--including share drafts/checks or ATM cards--that have been tampered with or used fraudulently. Contact all financial institutions and lenders, credit card issuers, utility companies, and the Social Security Administration to notify them of the fraud. Follow up each conversation with a letter.

* File a report with law enforcement and insist on getting a copy of the report or the report number.

* File a complaint with the FTC. Visit consumer.gov/idtheft for more information or call 877-IDTHEFT.

* To visit the Federal Trade Commission identity theft Web, click on the logo below.