In This Chapter

At this point, you’ve gone through much of what you must do to recover from the identity theft. You’re likely still dealing with the CRAs, the creditors, and possibly one or more government agencies. Nearing the end of your ordeal, the last thing you want to think about is reliving the entire experience. And yet, that’s what you need to do to really get beyond it.

Most victims would like the definitiveness of knowing who did this to them. That is not always possible. The most important outcome is not getting the bad guy; it’s recovering your good name and sanity back to normal. But what if the person does it again to you, or sells your sensitive data to someone else who victimizes you again? What if the thief proceeds to the next injured party?

You may find closure if you are one of the lucky ones who can bring the perpetrator to justice. If so, you need to know how to handle yourself in the pursuit of justice. You also need to take proper steps to protect your identity going forward. This chapter will lead you through the court system if the crook is caught and show how to feel more secure in the future.