Take the right steps to safeguard yourself.
- Analyze Your Situation There are multiple types of identity theft. How have you been affected? ...
- Place a Fraud Alert with a National Credit Reporting Agency (CRA) Contacting one of the three CRAs reduces the risk of accounts being opened in your name without your ...
- Check Your Financial Accounts Close any accounts that were opened without your permission, and close any of your existing accounts that have seen unauthorized activity.
- Check Your Computer for Viruses If you use your computer to access sensitive online accounts, a computer infected with malicious computer programs could allow a hacker to steal sensitive ...
- Secure Your Proof of Identity Expect that you’ll be required to complete and submit an affidavit and provide proof of your identity. ...
- File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Share information about your situation with the FTC so they can collect it for possible use by law enforcement across ...
- File a Police Report The police may only take the report as a courtesy and not pursue the matter. ...
- Keep a Record of Your Actions Log the steps you take to address the situation. ...
- Order Credit Reports for Review If you’ve placed a fraud alert, confirmation letters from the CRAs will tell you how to order a free report. ...
- Don’t Ignore the Activity
...
When to Report ID Theft to the Police
- You know the identity thief.
- The thief used your name in an interaction with the police.
- A creditor or another company requires you to provide a police report.
What to do when someone steals your identity?
What to do if your identity is stolen
- Contact the companies and banks where you know identity fraud occurred. ...
- Contact the credit reporting agencies and place fraud alerts. You will need to contact at least one of the three major CRAs: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. ...
- Ask for copies of your credit reports. ...
- Place a security freeze on your credit report. ...
What to do if identity theft happens?
What to Do if Identity Theft Happens to You. If you learn that your identity has been stolen: First, report the crime to your local police immediately and ask them to issue a police report about the theft.Local law enforcement must accept the complaint, prepare a police report, give the victim a copy of the report, investigate the allegation and any other related violations and where necessary ...
What to do if your identity is stolen?
Alert companies that your identity has been stolen. Call the businesses where fraudulent accounts or transactions have been made in your name. Ask for the fraud department, state that your identity has been stolen, and ask them to close or freeze the accounts.
What are the steps of identity theft?
- Any change of personal information: your name or Social Security number, address, and any employer details
- Inquiries, transactions or checks from companies you did not contact
- Authorization for credit accounts you did not request or open
- Any debts occurring on your account that you have no knowledge of
What is the first thing I should do for identity theft?
File a police report To complete the Identity Theft Report, you'll need to contact your local law enforcement office and report the theft. Be sure to get a copy of the police report and/or the report number. Both your police report and the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit combine to create your Identity Theft Report.
What happens if your identity is stolen?
Fair Credit Reporting Act: What to do about identity theft Getting copies of your credit reports from the three CRAs. Placing a security freeze on your credit report. Obtaining documents related to fraudulent transactions or accounts opened using your personal information. Obtaining information from debt collectors.
How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
Can you recover from identity theft?
On average, it can take 100 to 200 hours over six months to undo identity theft. The recovery process may involve working with the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert; reviewing your credit reports to pinpoint fraudulent activity; and reporting the theft.
How do you know if someone has stolen your identity?
9 warning signs your identity has been stolenYou're alerted to a credit card charge you didn't make. ... Your loan or credit card application was denied. ... There's a change to your credit score. ... There's a new account you didn't open under your name. ... Your information was part of a data breach.More items...•
How can I find out if someone is using my name?
What you can do to detect identity theftTrack what bills you owe and when they're due. If you stop getting a bill, that could be a sign that someone changed your billing address.Review your bills. ... Check your bank account statement. ... Get and review your credit reports.
How can I find out if someone opened an account in my name?
The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.
Identity Theft
Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud.The identity thief may use your information to apply for...
Report Identity Theft
Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect th...
Prevent Identity Theft
Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself from identity theft:Secure your Social Security number (SSN). Don't carry your Social Security card in...
How to report identity theft?
Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the fraudulent activity. The FTC will help you set up a recovery plan and provide you with an identity theft report. Your bank may ask you to provide information or forms from your recovery plan to confirm you’re not responsible for the fraudulent accounts.
What is identity theft?
Identity theft happens when thieves fraudulently use your personal information for their own gain. These thieves may open up new lines of credit, withdraw money from your current accounts or get your tax refund, among a myriad of other scams. Realizing you’re the victim of identity theft can be a scary, frustrating and isolating experience.
How long does an extended fraud alert last?
There are two types of fraud alerts, initial and extended. Identity theft victims can place an extended fraud alert, which lasts for 7 years. When requesting to add an extended fraud alert, you also need to provide a support document, like the identity theft report provided by the FTC. 4. Review your credit reports.
Can you add fraud alerts to your credit report?
You should also considering adding a fraud alert to your credit report. Fraud alerts can be done on top of a credit freeze , offering an extra layer of protection. Fraud alerts notify lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit in your name. There are two types of fraud alerts, initial and extended.
How to protect yourself from identity theft?
Keep these tips in mind to protect yourself from identity theft: Secure your Social Security number (SSN). Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Only give out your SSN when necessary. Don't share personal information (birthdate, Social Security number, or bank account number) because someone asks for it.
What is identity theft?
Identity Theft. Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud. The identity thief may use your information to apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services. These acts can damage your credit status, and cost you time and money to restore your good name. Open All +.
What is the difference between a theft report and an ID theft report?
The difference between reporting ID theft online or phone is if you receive an ID theft report. An ID theft report helps you prove to businesses that someone stole your identity. This report helps you fix problems caused by the identity theft. If you report by phone, you won't get an ID theft report.
What are the different types of identity theft?
Types of ID Theft. There are several common types of identity theft that can affect you: Tax ID theft - Someone uses your Social Security number to falsely file tax returns with the IRS or your state. Medical ID theft - Someone steals your Medicare ID or health insurance member number. Thieves use this information to get medical services ...
What to do if bills are late?
If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender. Use the security features Security Feature: an app or setting on a wireless device that can help protect the device and the information on it from threats and vulnerabilities. on your mobile phone.
Can a child's ID go undetected?
Child ID theft may go undetected for many years. Victims may not know until they’re adults, applying for their own loans. Seniors often share their personal information with doctors and caregivers. The number of people and offices that access seniors' information put them at risk.
ID Theft Resources
After you’ve received calls from collections agencies and discovered multiple credit cards and bank accounts have been opened in your name, the reality hits you: Your identity has been stolen. If you become a victim of identity theft, you should take immediate action.
Fair Credit Reporting Act: What to do about identity theft
If you discover you’re a victim of ID theft, you have specific rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These rights include:
What to do if your identity is stolen
If you’re the victim of identity theft, there are important steps you need to take to help stop an identity thief from continuing to commit fraud in your name, according to the FTC. Act fast.
Additional steps for identity theft recovery
After you’ve taken the steps outlined above, you’re on your way to responding to identity theft. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll need a recovery plan to help resolve other negative effects and protect yourself going forward.
What if I suspect Identity Theft?
If you suspect you may be the victim of Identity Theft, you should consider placing a fraud alert on your file with the three major credit bureaus. A fraud alert is a free service provided by the credit bureaus that requests that any creditor contact you by phone at a designated number before opening a new account.
What do I do if I am the victim of Identity Theft?
If you discover that your personal information is being illegally used, such as applying for loans or credit cards you can follow these steps:
What happens if you learn you are a victim of identity theft?
For example, your e-filed return rejects because of a duplicate tax filing with your Social Security number, and you report the incident to us:
How quickly can we work on identity theft cases?
How quickly we can work identity theft cases depends upon the volume of work and the complexity of the cases. Once we completely resolve your tax account issues, we will mark your account with an identity theft indicator to help protect your tax account in the future.
What to do if you can't verify your identity?
If you are unable to verify your identity with the customer service representative, you may be asked to visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. You should plan on providing picture identification plus the letter and a copy of the affected tax return if you did file one.
How does the IRS help victims of identity theft?
The IRS has worked hard to help victims of identity theft by making improvements and shortening the time it takes to resolve these complex situations. Each taxpayer’s experience will vary, depending on whether you tell us you may be a tax-related identity theft victim, or we tell you we have a suspicious tax return with your name on it.
How long does it take to get a tax return if you have identity theft?
You will receive notification that your case has been resolved. This is generally within 120 days, but complex cases may take 180 days or longer.
Where is identity theft case assigned?
Your case will be assigned to our ‘Identity Theft Victim Assistance’ organization where it will be researched and resolved by an employee with specialized identity theft training.
How long does it take to get a letter from the IRS asking for verification of identity?
You may receive a Letter 4883C from the IRS asking you to verify your identity within 30 days. Follow the letter’s instructions to verify your identity. Call the toll-free number provided in the letter. You must have the letter with you when you call the Taxpayer Protection Program.
How to recover an ID theft report?
Ask to speak to someone in the fraud department. Let them know you have an ID theft report filed with the FTC or police that you want to provide them. Then ask that they place a hold on any accounts in your name so that there’ s no other activity while you go through the recovery process .
How to tell credit bureaus about identity theft?
Tell them of the fraud by sending a copy of your identity theft affidavit to each credit bureau and requesting that the fraudulent activity be removed from your credit report. Again, check your report later to verify your report has been corrected.
How to prevent fraudsters from opening credit accounts in your name?
To do this, consider putting an alert on your credit file or freezing your credit. Both actions will help prevent future attempts by fraudsters to open credit accounts in your name.
How long does a fraud alert last?
Normally, a fraud alert lasts one year and entitles you to one additional free credit report from each bureau. But if you have an FTC affidavit or police report that you were the victim of ID theft, the alert lasts for seven years. You can still obtain credit while the alert is in effect.
What to do if you find a fraudulent account on your credit report?
If you find fraudulent accounts or hard inquires on your credit report, file a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov, or with your local police. This report is a legally binding affidavit that states you have been a victim of identity theft. Note that in the case of a federal government shutdown, the FTC could be impacted—and in fact it was closed during the 35-day shutdown that began at the end of 2018, Nolte warns.
What percentage of ID theft victims suffered no out-of-pocket loss in 2016?
According to Justice Department statistics, 88 percent of ID theft victims suffered no out-of-pocket loss in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available. That's because credit card companies and banks already cover most or all losses due to fraud.
How to put an alert on your credit report?
To put an alert on your credit report, contact one of the three credit bureaus. The bureau you contact must inform the other two. The alert will let creditors know that they must take extra steps to verify your identity, making it harder for an identity thief to open more accounts in your name.
