Here is a list of free steps that anyone can take immediately if they believe they are at risk of identity theft.

• Monitor your financial statements carefully. If you see any unauthorized or suspicious activity, promptly contact your bank, credit union, or credit card company. 
• Monitor your credit reports for suspicious or unauthorized activity. Under U.S. law, consumers are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report. 
• Place a fraud alert on your credit file. You have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on your file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert displayed on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Contact the three major credit bureaus directly to place a fraud alert on your credit file. (contact information below)
• Place a credit freeze on your credit file. A credit freeze will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. Contact the three major credit bureaus directly to place a credit freeze on your credit file. 
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General. To learn more about identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and other resources you may contact the Federal Trade Commission at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580, www.identitytheft.gov, 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338). 
• Report incidents of suspected or actual identity theft or fraud. These types of incidents should be reported to law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, and your state attorney general.

Contact information for the three major credit reporting bureaus 

Equifax 
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ 
1-888-298-0045 
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 

Experian 
https://www.experian.com/help/ 
1-888-397-3742 
Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 
Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013