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If you think someone opened an account using your identity, contact the company’s fraud department, check the reporting system for that type of account, and report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov. Move promptly, but treat an unfamiliar account as a warning sign to investigate—not proof by itself of who opened it or how.
First, contact the company and secure your accounts
- Call the company that opened the account. Ask for its fraud department. Explain that the account is not yours and ask the company to close or freeze it while it investigates. Request written confirmation that you are not liable and that any fraudulent account information has been removed from your credit report. Record the date, the number you called, and what the representative told you.
- Change exposed passwords and PINs. If you reused the affected password or PIN elsewhere, change it on those accounts too. Prioritize your email, bank, and payment accounts, since access to them may help someone reset other passwords or move money.
- Check the relevant reports. Review all three nationwide credit reports for unfamiliar credit accounts, and use the separate reporting system for suspected checking-account fraud.
- File an identity-theft report. Use IdentityTheft.gov or call the FTC at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC says the information you provide generates an Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan. Save or print both before leaving the site if you are not creating an account; the site warns they may not be accessible later.
Keep copies of letters, emails, and reports, plus dated notes from calls. The FTC provides sample letters for contacting businesses and credit bureaus.
Check the system that matches the account
Credit card, loan, or another credit account
Get your reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. The FTC says consumers can check their reports weekly for free. Look for unfamiliar accounts and inquiries, and contact the named creditor’s fraud department about anything you do not recognize. A report from one bureau may not show everything on the others.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAfter you obtain an FTC Identity Theft Report, you can send it to the credit bureaus with identification and a clear description of the fraudulent information when asking them to block it. See the FTC’s identity-theft rights guidance for the blocking process and supporting information.
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Checking account
For a checking account opened in your name, request your free report from ChexSystems, review it for unfamiliar activity, and contact each financial institution where a new account appears. The FTC’s checking-account identity-theft steps explain this route.
Phone or utility account
Contact the phone or utility provider’s fraud department. For phone-related accounts, the FTC recovery guide also points consumers to a data report from the National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange (NCTUE). If a provider does not resolve a telecom complaint, the guide identifies the FCC complaint process.
Choose a fraud alert or credit freeze deliberately
Both tools can make it harder for someone to open new credit in your name, but they work differently. The FTC describes the options as follows:
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| Tool | Duration and eligibility | How to set it up | Effect on new credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial fraud alert | Free; lasts one year. | Contact one of the three nationwide credit bureaus. That bureau must notify the other two. | A lender must take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. |
| Extended fraud alert | Free; lasts seven years and requires an FTC Identity Theft Report. | Request it from a nationwide credit bureau with the required report. | As with an initial alert, creditors must take extra steps to verify your identity. |
| Credit freeze | Free; available to anyone and remains until you lift or remove it. | Request it separately from each of the three nationwide bureaus. | Limits access to your credit report until you lift or remove the freeze, which can affect applications for new credit. |
An alert adds identity checks; a freeze restricts access to your credit report. For details on requesting or lifting these protections, use the FTC’s recovery steps and rights guidance.
Request records and dispute fraudulent information
With a valid FTC Identity Theft Report, you can ask a credit bureau to block fraudulent information from your credit file. You can also ask the business involved for records related to the identity theft, such as applications or transaction records. Include identification and a specific description of the account or transactions in your written request. Keep copies of what you send and the responses you receive; the FTC’s sample letters can help with these requests.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reduce the chance of another account takeover
Use unique, strong passwords for important accounts and turn on two-factor authentication where available. The FTC recommends authenticator apps or security keys over codes sent by text or email when the account offers those options. A password manager can help create and remember unique passwords.
A physical security key is optional and only helps protect sign-ins to compatible accounts; it does not identify or remove a fraudulent account. The FTC says, “Security keys are the strongest method of two-factor authentication because they don’t use credentials that hackers can steal.” Choose one only if your accounts support it, and continue with the fraud-reporting and dispute steps above.
The FTC cautions that “Accounts in your name that you don’t recognize could be a sign of identity theft.” Verify the account with the business and the relevant reporting system, then follow the recovery steps that fit what you find.
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