If your identity has ever been stolen, then you know how frustrating and time consuming it can be to get it fixed. There are ways you can fix it long term, for instance, by placing a extended fraud alert on the account. This means that in the event someone else tries to use your identity, they will be blocked. This can last for quite some time. You will let the credit reporting bureau know and they will place a flag on your account so that your identity has to go through an extra step to be identified.