WHAT'S THIS CHARGE?: It might just be an unexplained charge on your credit card statement that you don't recall making or have a receipt for. But it's important to look into these small transactions as they may be part of a larger problem: stolen credit.

Quick action can save you a lot of time later. The average victim of identity theft will spend close to 200 hours and $1,200 repairing the damage, according to Atlanta-based Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

So how do you restore your good name?

--File a police report. You may need to submit this report to creditors and others to prove the theft.

--Notify the credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Once there is a fraud alert in place on your file, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each. Review them carefully.

--Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently, and speak to someone in the security or fraud department for each company. Be sure to document each conversation, including dates, times and who you spoke to, and keep copies of all supporting documents.

--When you open new accounts, use new passwords and personal identification numbers. Avoid easy-to-crack codes such as birth dates, phone numbers, your mother's maiden name or your house number.

--File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The information can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them.