What to do if your identity is stolen: 6 steps to consider

The earlier you can catch fraud or identity theft, the better. If you spot something out of the ordinary—maybe you received a credit card you didn’t apply for or got a call about an account you never opened—don’t delay in taking action.

Wondering where to start? Here’s a list of things to do right away if you suspect you’ve become a victim of identity theft.

Key takeaways

• Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission to commit fraud.
• If your identity has been stolen, it helps to prevent further damage by communicating with your credit card companies and banks and reporting the theft to the police and federal government.
• You can protect your credit by requesting a fraud alert be placed on your file or by freezing your credit reports.

Identity theft happens when your personal or financial information is taken and used without your permission. This information might include your:

• Name
• Address
• Social Security number
• Credit card number
• Bank account number
• Medical insurance account number

This stolen information might be used to do things like make purchases with your credit card, steal your tax refund, open a credit or utility account in your name or use your health insurance.

There are a lot of ways identity theft can happen, from simple theft to phishing, credit card skimmers and other computer attacks. It’s a good idea to create strong passwords and keep an eye out for common scams.

If you find out your identity has been stolen, here are steps to take that can minimize potential damage:

If you’re aware of fraud on any of your accounts, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests first calling the company’s fraud department and explaining the situation. You can ask them to close or freeze the account for the time being. You can also change the usernames, passwords and PINs for your other accounts to protect you from further damage.

If your credit card is lost or stolen, your bank can lock the lost card and issue you a replacement card with a new number.

If accounts are opened with your information, it could affect your credit. You can ask for a fraud alert and even a security freeze to be placed on your file.

A fraud alert ensures that no new credit can be granted without your approval. When requesting a fraud alert, you only have to contact one of the three major credit bureaus. That bureau will notify the other two. Here’s where you can place a fraud alert with each of the bureaus:

• Equifax® fraud alert
• Experian® fraud alert 
• TransUnion® fraud alert

With a fraud alert, your identity must be verified by potential creditors before issuing new credit. But with a security freeze, your credit reports can’t be accessed and new credit lines can’t be opened. Unlike a fraud alert, you have to freeze your credit with each bureau separately. Here’s where you can place a security freeze with each of the main credit bureaus:

• Equifax credit freeze
• Experian credit freeze
• TransUnion credit freeze

Learn more about the difference between a fraud alert and a credit freeze. 

You can file a complaint with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and get help creating a personal recovery plan. 

You can also file a report with the police locally or where the identity theft took place. The police report number and a copy of the report can be helpful as proof of the crime when you contact your banks and credit card companies. 

Staying organized can help make your identity theft recovery as smooth as possible. Keep a record of information related to the theft, including:

• Digital or hard copies of emails
• Notes from phone conversations with creditors
• A list of banks or agencies you contacted, including dates, times, who you spoke to and contact numbers
• Any mail or additional documentation

Monitoring your credit can help you stay on top of any new changes to your accounts, like potentially fraudulent lines of credit. You can get free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. 

Plus, you could sign up for CreditWise from Capital One, which offers credit monitoring and dark web monitoring. It’s free for everyone, even if you’re not a Capital One customer.

With alerts or freezes in place, you can breathe a little easier. But it’s still important to check for any suspicious activity that may have already happened. If you notice a mistake or an unauthorized account, the FTC says you can dispute it with the credit bureau.

In a letter to the bureau that has an error, explain which information is wrong and include supporting documentation. Remember to keep records of all communication. Here’s how to file a dispute with each bureau:

• Equifax disputes
• Experian disputes
• TransUnion disputes

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, you can find peace of mind knowing there are ways to help prevent further damage and fix anything suspicious that’s happened. This may include temporarily pressing pause on things related to your credit and taking a closer look at your credit reports.

Identity theft can be stressful—but with the right steps, you can help keep your accounts safe. Learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft.