If you believe someone has used your identity, the first thing you should do is alert your financial institutions so that they can take immediate action to mitigate potential consequences. Next, call the companies where the fraud occurred and report the activity.
Then, you can take several steps to limit damage and possibly recover money that may have been stolen or used fraudulently.
Key Takeaways
- If you believe you’re a victim of identity theft, contact your financial institutions immediately.
- Next, contact the credit bureaus to initiate fraud alerts and to put a freeze on your credit.
- Then, file a report with the FTC and your local police department.
- Lastly, begin repairing any damage to your credit or accounts and monitor both at least monthly.
How to Report a Stolen Identity
After reporting the activity to your financial institutions and companies, contact the credit bureaus and initiate a fraud alert. Any business where the thieves try to use your credit will receive a fraud alert and be required to verify the person’s identity.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also recommends reporting the fraud to them so that they can help you with your recovery. The agency has an online form you can use, or you can call 1-877-438-4338.
Consider filing a report with your local police department (it may help you with other steps you may need to take). When you do:
- Attach your FTC Identity Theft ComplaintÂ
- Attach the FTC’s memo that explains why a police report is important
- Provide any other documents that show evidence of identity theft, such as your credit report or a debt collection letter
- Ask the police officer to include the FTC complaint in their police report so you can file disputes with credit bureaus and lenders
When you file a police report, be sure to ask for a copy.
Other Action: Get Your Credit Report
Additionally, you should get your latest credit report and begin working with creditors and the credit bureaus to update your credit history. The following table contains credit bureau contact information with links to report fraud and place a freeze on your credit.
If you’re dealing with damaged credit, you can enlist help from the best credit repair companies. You can do everything done by a credit repair company yourself, but a quality company can take on the cumbersome and time-consuming process on your behalf and get inaccurate information on your credit report fixed.
The Bottom Line
Having someone steal and then use your identity can be a scary experience, but if you know what to do beforehand, you can take action as soon as you notice suspected fraudulent activity. Once you’ve reported it, you can begin repairing any damages.