Fight back against identity theft.

The Burleson Police Department wants you to know how to avoid identity theft. But, if you are one of the unlucky who has an identity stolen, there’s a step-by-step guide on how to handle the aftermath.

The Burleson Police Department is linking with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to get the word out to citizens by adding a link to both sites on the City of Burleson web site, www.burlesontx.com, which will link you to the police department by clicking on “departments,” then “police department.”

The FTC slogan is “Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft.” The web site, www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft, is a one-stop national resource to learn about identity theft. The site is for the person who has been victimized, businesses who want to learn how to help customers, and law enforcement that may need additional resources.

The DPS web site is a step-by-step guide on what to do if you have become a victim of identity theft. Call the police. Contact the nearest driver’s license office. Notify creditors and merchants. Notify banks. Contact the Social Security Administration, the FTC, and the United States Passport Agency. Report the theft to one of the three major credit reporting agencies. And, report stolen checks or fraudulent bank accounts to the check verification companies.

The DPS web site is www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/idtheft/idtheft2.htm.

For more information about identity theft, call the Burleson Police Department at 817-426-9910