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Immediate Steps if Your Identity is Stolen

Step 1—Contact Your Bank or Credit Union

Contact your bank, credit union, or the issuer of your debit or ATM card.  Most companies have toll-free, 24-hour phone numbers. Be sure you document the date and time of your call and the name of the person you spoke with.  You may also want to follow up with a letter the next day.  Include your account number, when believe your identity was stolen, when you reported the issue, and the name of the person you spoke with.

Step 2—Contact Your Credit Card Companies

Contact your credit card companies.  Report that you believe your identity has been stolen and that you want change your account number.  Again, you may want to follow up with a letter.

Step 3Place an Initial Fraud Alert

If you believe that your identity has been stolen, contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax or Trans Union. 

They will ask you for identifying information in order to create the fraud alert.  They will then contact the other two credit reporting agencies and inform them of the fraud alert.

While you have a fraud alert on your credit file, it will be harder for you or anyone to open a new account under your name.  In order to open a new account in your name, the vendor will be required to contact you directly to verify that you indeed want to open a new account.

A fraud alert will stay on your credit file for 90 days.  You can renew it after that.

It will allow you one free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies.

Step 4Order Your Credit Reports

Once you have placed a fraud alert on your credit files, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus:

  • Equifax 1‑800‑525‑6285
  • Experian 1‑888‑397‑3742
  • TransUnion 1‑800‑680‑7289

If you know which accounts have been compromised, contact those companies directly and ask to speak to their fraud departments. Once you have spoken with them on the phone, write them a letter and send it certified mail.  This provides you with a record of the communication.

You may also consider putting a credit freeze on your credit file, meaning that potential creditors will not have access to your credit report.  You will need to contact all three credit bureaus.  There may be a fee for this service.

Step 5Create an Identity Theft Report

  • Submit a complaint about the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  Print it out.  This will serve as your "Identity Theft Affidavit” or call 1-877-438-4338.
  • Go to your local police station to file a police report about the identity theft.  Once completed, ask for a copy of the police report or the report number. Bring your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit with you when you file the police report.
  • Your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit along with your police report will create an official Identity Theft Report.

Step 6—Be Vigilant

Check your bank or credit union statements, credit card statements, and credit reports regularly for the next several months to make sure there are no additional actions taken using your identity.  Open and review your mail, too.  Watch out for any bills, invoices, or collections notices that do not belong to you.