We went through this a year ago after my husband's wallet was pickpocketed. If you haven't done so already, contact your bank's fraud unit and ask the people there if they recommend filing a police report as well; if they do, then do so ASAP. (The fraud unit at our bank required that.)

If you have not done so, immediately contact one of the three main credit bureaus -- Experian, TransUnion or Equifax -- and ask for a fraud alert to be put on your file. (Contacting one will trigger notifications to the other two.) The bank may also offer you free credit monitoring of your account for a year or so.

A section of the Federal Trade Commission website is devoted to identity theft, listing the steps you need to take and the contact information for the credit bureaus. Be warned: There's a fair bit of paperwork involved in following all the recommended steps, but most of it can be done online through the links on the FTC Identity Theft site.

Leslie

April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.