In today's digital age, data breaches have become all too common and leave unsuspecting consumers vulnerable to a host of identity theft issues. From Capital One to Facebook to Quest Diagnostics, no industry seems to be safe from determined hackers. Last year alone, 15.1 billion records were exposed in reported data breaches, according to RiskBasedSecurity.com, a Richmond, Va.-based cybersecurity risk management firm.
If you've been notified by your credit card company, a retailer you visit often or another trusted source that your sensitive information has been compromised, you'll need to act fast. Taking action within the first 48 hours is the difference between stopping identity thieves dead in their tracks or having them wreak havoc on your financial life for months to come, suggests Carrie Kerskie, president of Griffon Force, a Naples, Fla.-based company that helps identity fraud victims recover.