What Identity Theft Does to Your Sense of Safety (And How to Get It Back)

Maybe it was a credit card you never opened, or a collections call about a debt that isn’t yours. Identity theft is one of the most mentally, emotionally, and financially unwanted and disruptive events an individual can experience. Being a victim of identity theft completely obliterates your sense of safety. You feel like you’re fighting for your life because you actually are. The depth of vulnerability combined with a dysregulated nervous system from the anxiety makes it almost impossible to manage this alone.

One way you can combat the fear and anxiousness is to take micro steps at your own pace, as opposed to tackling a 75-step recovery in one day. Here is how taking specific action steps can help you rebuild your sense of safety, even in the midst of chaos.

If you have experienced identity theft, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You have consumer rights and resources to walk you through the process, and you don’t have to solve everything in one day.

Step 1: Stop the bleeding

Take a deep, slow breath and repeat: I am still in control of my life. Grab a pen and a piece of paper to document important details, such as who you spoke to and when. Depending on your capacity, you can execute one or multiple steps daily. This strategy allows you to take action without overwhelming yourself. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, pause. The steps will still be there.

Contact the fraud department of the companies where the fraud occurred. Making the first call can be difficult, but it's your first step toward fighting back and taking your power back.

It helps to acknowledge the progress you’re making along the way. Oftentimes, the first step is the hardest.

Step 2: Take back control

Reach out to one of the three credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. That credit bureau is required to notify the other two. An initial fraud alert lasts one year. If your identity has already been stolen, you can request an extended fraud alert that lasts seven years. For that one, you’ll need an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov or a police report.

If you need a break between calls, take one. Rebuilding your capacity throughout this process is going to be very important.

It can also be helpful to review your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. I know that the thought of combing through them can be draining. Breaking it down into small action steps while drinking your favorite cup of coffee may help.

Whenever you feel like you’re in this alone, remember that you have built-in protections as an ally on this journey. One of those protections is the Fair Credit Billing Act. This act gives you the right to dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card accounts and caps your liability for those charges at $50. Debit cards fall under a different law, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and your protection there depends on how quickly you report the problem.

Placing a fraud alert and checking your reports are two concrete ways to feel steadier and more in control.

Step 3: Time to move forward with the recovery process

Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You will receive a personalized, free, step-by-step recovery plan. Think of the recovery plan as a roadmap to help you recover your identity. Your identity theft report can be used as a tool to advocate for yourself with creditors and credit bureaus. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, that report lets you ask the credit bureaus to block fraudulent accounts from your file, and you have the right to dispute anything else that’s inaccurate.

Step 4: Add another layer of protection

Freeze all three credit reports. By freezing your reports, you’re making it much harder for someone to open new credit in your name. You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you stopped any new bleeding from occurring. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act made credit freezes and thaws free of charge nationwide. That’s one less bill you have to worry about.

Prevention

Whether you’ve experienced identity theft or you’re actively trying to prevent it from occurring, protecting your information can make a huge difference. Micro, intentional steps can be helpful in keeping you in the driver’s seat when it comes to protecting your money and your identity.

Consider keeping your credit frozen when you’re not applying for new credit. It can take less than five minutes to thaw (unfreeze) your credit reports. My credit has been frozen for the past few years. I sleep well at night knowing that I made it harder for someone to open a new account in my name.

Another way I protect my identity is by using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. My goal is to create multiple layers of protection.

I also replaced my old strip-cut shredder with a cross-cut shredder. I noticed that the strip-cut shredder cut my private documents into long, ribbon-like strips. Anyone could have gone through the trash and pieced my documents together. The cross-cut shredder cuts my documents into small pieces similar to confetti. The relief I’ve felt since then has been unmatched.

Two of the most recent layers of protection I’ve added have been to:

• Reduce my digital footprint.

• Opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers.

I’m very mindful of the ways in which identity thieves can easily build a detailed digital profile of someone who overshares on the internet. To avoid making myself an easy target, I refrain from putting my personal, identifiable information on social media and artificial intelligence platforms. I don’t share my birthday, family pictures, or where I live or work on digital platforms.

The last layer I added to protect my identity, nervous system, and peace of mind was opting out of prescreened credit and insurance offers. I recently moved and I didn’t want to leave myself vulnerable.

Protecting yourself from identity theft can feel like a part-time job. However, the peace of mind and control over your identity are the payoff.

If you’d like someone in your corner while you sort through it, a Fruition Mentor can help you think through your recovery plan and what each step means for your credit.