• The first step is to report the fraud to your nearest police station.
• If you have had your wallet or purse stolen contact your bank and credit card provider immediately to cancel any cards.
• Even if not all your accounts have been affected it is worth flagging the fact that you have been a victim of identity fraud to other lenders, banks etc. so they can monitor your accounts more closely and ensure that the thieves do not access these too.
• Contact a credit reference agency and follow their suggested steps to resolve the situation and prevent it happening again.
• Keep all documentary evidence of fraud
  Take notes, keep copies and keep police reports, get confirmation of conversations and actions in writing. Never send originals away in the mail - if documents are required by someone else, send photocopies.
• With police help, take action to clear criminal records
  Your first point of contact is the police - you may have to undergo police routines of photographing and fingerprinting to establish that you are not the same person as the person who stole your identity and used it fraudulently. You may need to hire a lawyer— Legal Aid or the Law Society in your state or territory may be able to assist.
• Protect yourself moving forward. Invest in a confetti cut shredder and destroy all documents before recycling or binning them.

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If you think you have been OR you are a victim of identity theft

Top 10 tips for protecting your identity