An identity thief can strike even if you've been very careful with your personal information. If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen to commit fraud or theft, take action immediately, and keep a record of your correspondence.

Step 1: Contact creditors
Creditors can include credit card companies, phone companies and other utilities, banks and other lenders. Ask to speak with someone in the customer service, security or fraud department of each creditor and follow up with a letter. Immediately close accounts that have been tampered with and open new ones with new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

Step 2: File a police report
Be sure to file a report with either your local police or the police department in the community where the theft took place. Even if the police can't catch the identity thief, having a copy of the police report can help you when dealing with creditors. Get a copy of the police report in case the bank, credit card company or others need proof of the crime.

Step 3: Contact the Postal Office
If an identity thief has stolen your mail to get new credit cards, bank and credit card statements, prescreened credit offers or tax information, or if an identity thief has falsified change-of-address forms, that's a crime. Report it to your local postal inspector. Contact your local post.