Right away
- Call the companies where you know fraud occurred: the bank, card issuer or other business where the account or charge appeared.
- Place a fraud alert and get your credit reports. The guide credit freeze vs fraud alert explains how each works, and how to read a credit report where new accounts and inquiries show up.
- Report identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
The FTC adds that you may choose to file a report with your local police department.
What to do next
| Step (IdentityTheft.gov) | Where it is explained here |
|---|---|
| Close new accounts opened in your name | the company's fraud department, using the FTC's sample letters |
| Remove bogus charges from your accounts | credit card disputes and debit card disputes |
| Correct your credit report | how to read a credit report |
| Consider an extended fraud alert or credit freeze | credit freeze vs fraud alert |
| Review your credit reports often | the same guide on reading reports |
Other possible steps
- Report a misused Social Security number; SSN vs EIN vs ITIN covers what the number is used for.
- Stop debt collectors from collecting debts you do not owe; your rights, including the 30-day written dispute, are in debt collection rights.
- Replace government-issued IDs.
- Clear your name of criminal charges, if someone used your identity in a crime.
IdentityTheft.gov also has steps for certain accounts: utilities, phones, government benefits, checking accounts, student loans, Small Business Administration loans, apartment or house rentals, investment accounts, and a bankruptcy filed in your name.
Special forms of identity theft
| Form (IdentityTheft.gov) | Related guide |
|---|---|
| Tax identity theft | IRS identity protection PIN to prevent a repeat |
| Child identity theft | its own checklist on IdentityTheft.gov |
| Medical identity theft | its own checklist on IdentityTheft.gov |
Protecting the accounts themselves helps too: how long should a password be, two-factor authentication methods and the password generator. This guide follows the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov recovery steps, which also provides sample letters and a printable checklist for each stage.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my identity is stolen?
IdentityTheft.gov lists three steps to take right away: call the companies where you know fraud occurred; place a fraud alert and get your credit reports; and report the identity theft to the FTC. You may also choose to file a report with your local police department.
How do I report identity theft to the FTC?
At IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government's resource for identity theft victims. The site provides checklists and sample letters to guide the recovery, organized into what to do right away, what to do next, other possible steps and steps for certain accounts.
What do I do after the first steps?
The FTC's next steps: close new accounts opened in your name, remove bogus charges from your accounts, correct your credit report, consider adding an extended fraud alert or a credit freeze, and review your credit reports often.
What if someone used my Social Security number for taxes?
IdentityTheft.gov treats tax identity theft as one of its special forms, alongside child and medical identity theft, with its own checklist. To prevent a repeat, the IRS Identity Protection PIN stops a return being filed with your Social Security number without the six-digit PIN.
What if debt collectors call about debts I do not owe?
Stopping debt collectors from trying to collect debts you do not owe is one of the FTC's other possible steps. Under Regulation F you can dispute a debt in writing within the 30-day validation period, which pauses collection of the disputed amount until the collector responds.