Call the fraud department. Explain that someone stole your identity. | |
Ask them to close or freeze the accounts. Then, no one can add new charges unless you agree. | |
Change logins, passwords and PINS for your accounts. | You might have to contact these companies again after you have an Identity Theft Report. |
Complete the online form at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible. Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan. Your identity theft report proves to businesses that someone stole your identity. It also guarantees you certain rights. If you create an account, we'll walk you through each recovery step, update your plan as needed, track your progress, and pre-fill forms and letters for you. If you don't create an account, you must print and save your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan right away. Once you leave the page, you won't be able to access or update them. Complete the FTC’s online complaint form . Give as many details as you can. The complaint form is not available on mobile devices, but you can call 1-877-438-4338 to make your report. |
Go to your local police office with: |
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Tell the police someone stole your identity and you need to file a report. If they are reluctant, show them the FTC's Memo to Law Enforcement . | |
Ask for a copy of the police report. You’ll need this to complete other steps. | |
Create your Identity Theft Report by combining your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit with your police report.![]() |
Your identity theft report proves to businesses that someone stole your identity. It also guarantees you certain rights. Know your rights, click here |
Write to each of the three credit bureaus. This sample letter can help.
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If someone steals your identity, you have the right to remove fraudulent information from your credit report. This is called blocking. Once the information is blocked, it won’t show up on your credit report, and companies can’t try to collect the debt from you. If you have an Identity Theft Report, credit bureaus must honor your request to block this information. If you don’t have an Identity Theft Report, you still can dispute incorrect information in your credit file. It can take longer, and there’s no guarantee that the credit bureaus will remove the information. |
Extended fraud alerts and credit freezes can help prevent further misuse of your personal information. There are important differences. This chart can help you decide which might be right for you.
Extended Fraud Alert | Credit Freeze |
Lets you have access to your credit report as long as companies take steps to verify your identity | Stops all access to your credit report unless you lift or remove it |
Free to place and remove if someone stole your identity. Guaranteed by federal law. | Cost and availability depend on your state law (link is external). There might be a small fee for placing, lifting and removing. |
Lasts for 7 years | Lasts until you lift or remove |
Set it by contacting each of the three credit bureaus:
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Set it by contacting each of the 3 credit bureaus.
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For fraud alerts: |
For credit freezes: |
Social Security card lost or stolen? Apply online for free to get a replacement card. |
Do you think someone else is using your Social Security number for work? Review your Social Security work history by creating an account at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount . If you find errors, contact your local SSA office . |
Follow the usual steps for What To Do Right Away and What To Do Next with 2 exceptions:
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The SSN-only search means that any items associated with your child’s SSN are included in the report -- even if the thief used your child’s SSN with a different name. Because a minor cannot legally agree to contracts, any debts on your child’s credit report are fraudulent by definition. |
If you think a thief used your personal information to get medical services, get copies of your records.
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Federal law gives you the right to know what’s in your medical files. Did your provider refuse to give you copies of the records to protect the identity thief’s privacy rights? You can appeal. Contact the person listed in your provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices, the patient representative, or the ombudsman. Explain the situation and ask for your file. If the provider refuses to provide your records within 30 days of your written request, you may complain to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights . |
Review your medical records, and report any errors to your health care provider.
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Your health care provider should respond to your letter within 30 days. Ask the provider to fix the mistake and notify other health care providers who may have the same mistake in their records. |
Notify your health insurer.
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If there are medical billing errors on your credit report, notify all 3 credit reporting companies.
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Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send. |
If someone is arrested and uses your name or personal information, contact the law enforcement agency that arrested the thief. You may need to check court records to find out where the thief was arrested.
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If a court prosecutes an identity thief using your name, contact the court where the arrest or conviction happened.
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Contact your state Attorney General .
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Consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer. The American Bar Association or a local legal services provider can help you find a lawyer. | |
Ask the law enforcement agency that arrested the thief which information brokers buy their records.
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Information brokers buy criminal records and sell information to employers and debt collectors. |
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send. |
Do you think someone opened a new checking account in your name? Order a free copy of your ChexSystems report, which compiles information about your checking accounts. | |
If someone is writing bad checks against your account, contact your financial institution.
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You also can contact check verification companies. Report that your checks were stolen. Ask them to tell businesses to refuse the stolen checks. Telecheck 1-800-710-9898 Certegy 1-800-437-5120 |
If a business rejects your checks, ask the business for an explanation. The business must tell you what information led them to reject your check. | |
Write down who you contacted and when. Keep copies of any letters you send. |