Here are a few more tips on what to expect, courtesy of the Identity Theft Resource Center.

•    Nearly a third of victims report spending at least 4-6 months cleaning up the mess created by identity theft.

•    Victims also face some “unexpected secondary effects” from the crime, including:

1.    Increased insurance or credit card fees
2.    Problems finding a job
3.    Higher interest rates
4.    Battles with collection agencies and issuers who refuse to clear records — despite clear evidence supporting that a crime was committed.

And some more good news, this activity may continue for more than 10 years after the crime was first discovered.

Other not-so-good stats on identity restoration also include:

•    The emotional impact of identity theft on victims has been compared to violent crimes — like repeated battering and even rape.

•    And most victims report that no matter what they do, they continue to have difficulty removing the fraudulent information from their credit reports.

Although I’ve written numerous articles on how to respond to an identity theft, I still get plenty of questions related to the topic.

So here’s an easy-to-follow/step-by-step approach to help you get your identity back:

Step 1 – Don’t panic. There are plenty of resources and laws to help victims of identity theft to restore their good name..

Step 2 – Gather your facts. To restore your identity and your good name you’ll need to get as many facts as possible on the theft(s). Make sure you identify all the fraudulent accounts you think were opened, any unauthorized charges and unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account.

Step 3 – Contact the three main credit bureaus. Make sure they are aware of the crime and are doing everything they should to remove fraudulent charges from your records. Check to see if your state has credit freeze laws. If so, place a freeze on your credit report to prevent any further credit inquiries.

Step 4 – Complete an identity theft affidavit. In responding to an identity theft, be sure to fill out an identity theft affidavit and a police report. You should offer copies of these official forms to any creditor that questions your credit history or denies you credit because of the identity theft.

Step 5 – Keep a written record of every communication you make. Log it all – every phone call, email, letter or conversation. You may need proof that you followed proper identity restoration procedures if creditors or credit bureaus don’t cooperate.

Step 6 – Don’t be intimidated or feel threatened. Take a deep breath and review step #1. Don’t panic and don’t let threatening calls from creditors shake you up.

As a victim of identity theft you have many rights — especially the right NOT to pay debts that aren’t yours.