Credit Fraud & Identity Theft
Identity theft and credit fraud can happen when someone uses your personal information without your permission to open accounts, make purchases, obtain services, or conduct other financial transactions in your name.
The sooner you recognize the warning signs and take action, the better. Understanding what to look for—and knowing the proper steps to take—can help you protect your credit and begin correcting fraudulent information.
Warning Signs of Credit Fraud or Identity Theft
Watch for these common warning signs:
• Accounts or credit cards you don’t recognize
• Purchases or charges you didn’t make
• Credit inquiries from companies you didn’t contact
• Bills or collection notices for debts that aren’t yours
• Unexpected changes to your credit report or credit score
• Statements or bills that suddenly stop arriving
• Notices that an unfamiliar account was opened in your name
• Being contacted about a debt you don’t recognize
What to Do If You Suspect Identity Theft
If you believe someone has stolen or misused your identity, take action as soon as possible:
1. Contact the company where the fraud occurred.
Ask for the fraud department. Report the fraudulent account or transaction and ask what steps are required to close, freeze, or secure the affected account.
2. Change compromised passwords and PINs.
Update login information for affected financial accounts and any other accounts that may use the same or similar passwords.
3. Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission.
Visit IdentityTheft.gov to report the theft and create an Identity Theft Report and personalized recovery plan.
4. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze.
An initial fraud alert is free, lasts one year, and requires businesses to take steps to verify your identity before extending new credit. Contacting one of the three nationwide credit bureaus to place an initial fraud alert will cause that bureau to notify the other two. A credit freeze is also free, but you must contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion individually to freeze all three reports.
5. Review all three credit reports carefully.
Look for accounts, inquiries, addresses, balances, or other information you don’t recognize.
6. Address fraudulent information on your credit reports.
Identity-theft victims can request that credit reporting companies block fraudulent information by providing an Identity Theft Report, proof of identity, and information identifying the fraudulent items. When the required information is provided, the credit reporting company generally must block the identified fraudulent information within four business days.
Official Resources to Protect Your Credit
Official websites for reporting identity theft, reviewing your credit reports, and protecting your credit:
Report Identity Theft — Federal Trade Commission
IdentityTheft.gov provides step-by-step recovery guidance and allows you to create an Identity Theft Report and personalized recovery plan.
Equifax
Place or manage a credit freeze, fraud alert, and review information about protecting your Equifax credit file.
Experian
Place or manage a credit freeze or fraud alert and access identity-theft resources for your Experian credit file.
TransUnion
Place or manage a credit freeze or fraud alert and find resources for protecting your TransUnion credit file.
AnnualCreditReport.com
The federally authorized website for obtaining your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
