How to Report Identity Theft: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Reporting identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission is your best way to alert authorities to fraud . It’s also important to put a fraud alert on your credit accounts, at the very least — and consider going for greater protection by freezing your credit.
Follow these steps so that you can start your recovery.
Report identity theft to the FTC
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov or 877-438-4338. The website and phone hotline both offer information in several languages. Reporting the incident preserves your rights, including your ability to get fraudulent accounts off your credit report.
At the website, you can create an account and get a customized checklist to help you repair the damage. After reporting your identity theft to the FTC, you may choose to file a report with your local police department. Take a copy of the FTC report with you.
If you believe your identity was stolen via mail theft, report it to the U.S. Postal Service.
If you think someone has used your identity to file a bogus tax return, you may need to file an identity theft affidavit with the IRS.
» Learn more: How to get an ID protection PIN from the IRS
Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus
If you suspect your personal information has been exposed, place an initial fraud alert on your credit files so that applications in your name get extra scrutiny.
This alert is available to anyone who suspects identity theft. Contact any bureau, and it will take care of notifying the others:
Equifax: 800-525-6285.
Experian: 888-397-3742.
TransUnion: 800-680-7289.
Contact the companies involved
Report fraudulent charges on an existing credit card to the card issuer right away. In most cases, you will have zero liability .
The card will be canceled and you will get a new card with a different number. Remember to update autopay accounts, and consider grouping all recurring charges on a single card to simplify things if this should happen again.
If you need help removing fraudulent charges from accounts, use the credit bureau dispute process.
The FTC also suggests changing account logins, passwords and personal identification numbers.
If, for example, someone compromised your online shopping account, call the company’s fraud department, tell the company what happened and ask for help on freezing or closing your account so no one else can access it, the FTC says.
If new accounts were opened, call the customer service department to get help closing them. The FTC has a sample letter you can use if written notice is required. You may be asked to provide a copy of a police report.
In all cases, keep notes of the date and time you called, whom you talked to and what steps you were told to take.
Consider a credit freeze or extended fraud alert
Watch for and dispute errors or fraudulent credit accounts on your credit reports to make sure everything was taken care of. You can get a free credit report every week from the three major credit bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Then, think about protecting yourself in the future. A credit freeze is considered the surest way to ensure your credit isn’t used without your consent. Credit freezes with the major credit bureaus are free.
If you don’t want to freeze your credit, you can get an extended fraud alert that lasts for seven years. Like the initial one, you need contact only one of the bureaus. But this time you’ll need to provide documentation, including an identity theft report:
Equifax: Mail this form to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348-5069.
Experian: Send this form to Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 or upload the needed documents.
TransUnion: Send this form and requested documentation to TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016.
