Identity Theft

Identity theft is a crime. It happens when someone uses your information without your permission for their own gain.

If you have been the victim of identity theft, it could mean someone has used your name and information to:

buy things
get credit cards
get medical services
use your ATM card
collect your tax refund
use your checkbook
say they are you when speaking with law enforcement
rent an apartment, or
get utilities without your permission

In some cases, the identities of children, seniors and domestic violence survivors are stolen by family members. You should report identify theft even if the person stealing your identity is a family member.

Problems caused by identity theft

Even if you are able to resolve a financial identity theft issue with your bank, this use of your name and credit history can cause ongoing problems. For example:

You get collection letters for things you did not purchase.
There are entries on your credit report that keep you from getting credit or make you pay a higher interest rate.

Becoming the victim of identity theft can be a complicated and frustrating time in your life.

What can I do?

You can repair your credit and stop the damage from identity theft. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to review the steps you can take to recover from identity theft. You can also follow the advice there to report the identity theft, check your credit report and put a temporary freeze on your accounts.

Here are a few things you can do.

Get a copy of your credit report

There are three credit bureaus (also called credit reporting agencies). They are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Learn how to get a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau. You do not have to pay for a copy of your credit report, but this is the only link to get completely free credit reports from all three bureaus.

You can get one free credit report from each company every 12 months. Make sure to save or print the copies of your report. You may not be able to access them again for another 12 months. If you have recently been turned down for credit, you may also be able to get a free copy of your report, but only from one credit bureau.

You should review each report because they may be different. Look for incorrect items on each report. If you find some, make a copy and circle them. You can send this along with a letter to the credit bureau. (See the information on form letters, below).

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone in the U.S. can get a free credit report each week from all three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com. This is available through December 31, 2023.

Make a police report

Identity theft is a crime. Reporting this crime to the police is a good first step in repairing the damage done by the thief. You can do some things to clear up your credit if you don’t want to report the crime to the police. However, it is much harder to protect yourself from further damage to your name and credit if you do not report the theft to the police.

Contact credit bureaus and creditors

Ask for a fraud alert

If you think your identity has been stolen, notify the credit reporting bureaus right away. A “fraud alert” is a flag on your credit report that makes it hard for other people to open new accounts in your name. Usually, if you ask for a fraud alert through one credit bureau, they tell the other two credit bureaus that you need a fraud alert. Use these links or phone numbers:

Equifax
1-888-836-6351

Experian
1-888-397-3742

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289

Or ask for a credit freeze

To freeze your credit report, you do need to fill out forms at each of the three credit reporting bureaus.

If you want to completely prohibit the release of your credit file to potential new lenders, you may want a security freeze. The security freeze will stop new lenders from accessing your credit file. This would prevent you and others from opening new accounts in your name. But note that not all lenders review a credit report before offering credit.

Learn more about the difference between a freeze and a fraud alert on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.

Equifax
1-888-298-0045

Experian
1-888-397-3742

TransUnion
1-888-909-8872

Use form letters to dispute charges

To protect your credit, you must contact credit bureaus, creditors and debt collectors if there are charges on accounts in your name.

When you send your letters, be sure to keep copies. Also gather the following documents to send copies with the letters:

proof of your identity (a copy of a driver’s license, passport or social security card)
a copy of any letter you’ve received from the person you are contacting (any letters you’ve received from debt collectors or bills for things you have not purchased)
a copy of your credit report with incorrect items circled
a police report / identity theft report if you’ve made one

Letter to a credit bureau
[form letter]
Create a letter to send to all three credit bureaus to ask them to investigate and remove items from your credit report that are the result of identity theft.

Letter to creditor – For a new, fraudulent account
[form letter]
A “creditor” is someone directly collecting their own bill. Send this letter to a business, such as a utility, where an account was created without your consent.

Letter to creditor – For charges on existing account
[form letter]
Use this letter for charges to an existing account that you didn’t make or authorize.

Letter to a debt collector
[form letter]
A “debt collector” is someone who is collecting a debt that was made with someone else (sometimes called the original creditor). A debt collector is sometimes referred to as a collection agency. If you did not notice that your identity was being used right away, you may have to deal with a debt collector. Use this letter to notify a debt collector that you did not authorize the expense. You have rights when it comes to debt collection. Learn more on our Debt Collection section of our website.

Find additional form letters here.

You can also plan out a recovery plan on the IdentityTheft.gov website.

Check bills and credit reports regularly

Once you have notified the credit bureaus and creditors (and debt collectors, if necessary), your job is not done. You will have to check your credit report regularly. Also keep an eye on bills, bank statements and credit card statements for unexpected charges.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, ask the credit bureau to allow you a free report more often than once a year. You may also want to ask each bureau for an extended fraud alert or credit freeze. Check the IdentityTheft.gov website for more information.

For more information about identity theft, and detailed steps to take if you have been a victim, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft website.