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Act in this order: contain the known fraud, preserve evidence, place a fraud alert, check all three credit reports, file an FTC identity-theft report, and freeze your credit if someone may open new accounts. Then contact law enforcement and any specialized agency involved. This sequence limits further damage while creating the records you need for disputes.
This checklist is for the United States. Use official domains typed directly into your browser—IdentityTheft.gov and AnnualCreditReport.com—rather than links in unexpected emails or text messages.
1. Stop the known fraud immediately
Call every bank, card issuer, lender, retailer, mobile carrier, or other company where you see or suspect unauthorized activity. Ask for the fraud department, explain that the activity is identity theft, and request that the account be closed or frozen so additional charges cannot be added without your approval.
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What to record during each call
- Date and time of the call
- Representative’s name, department, and case or reference number
- Whether the account was closed, frozen, or restricted
- Transactions or applications disputed
- Documents sent and the promised follow-up date
2. Preserve evidence before deleting or shredding anything
Save statements, emails, text messages, screenshots, transaction IDs, shipping information, account notices, and letters from creditors. Keep a dated incident log that connects each item to the account or event involved. Secure scans are useful, but retain originals when possible.
Do not delete suspicious messages or destroy paperwork until the bank, creditor, police, or the Federal Trade Commission no longer needs it. When documents are no longer needed, use a cross-cut shredder for receipts, applications, bills, and copies containing personal information.
3. Place a free fraud alert
Contact any one of Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and request a fraud alert. The bureau you contact must notify the other two. The initial alert lasts one year and tells businesses to take additional steps to verify your identity before issuing new credit.
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If you have a confirmed identity-theft report, you can request a free extended fraud alert lasting seven years. A fraud alert does not block access to your credit file; it asks businesses to verify you before opening credit.
4. Pull and review all three credit reports
Get your reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Obtain all three rather than relying on a single bureau, because an account or inquiry may appear on only one report.
Mark every item you do not recognize
- New accounts, loans, or credit cards
- Hard inquiries you did not authorize
- Balances, collections, or payment history that are not yours
- Unknown addresses, employers, or phone numbers
Download or print each report and keep the copies with your incident log. The unfamiliar items will guide your disputes and help you identify whether the theft is limited to one company or affects several creditors.
5. File an FTC identity-theft report
Use IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The service creates an FTC Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan. The report is evidence that someone stole your identity and can help prove the theft to businesses.
If you do not create an account on the site, save or print the report and recovery plan before leaving the page. Keep the report number and copies with your other records; creditors may request them during a dispute.
6. Freeze your credit when new-account fraud is possible
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit file for most new-credit checks, making it harder for a thief to open accounts in your name. It is free to place and lift, and it remains until you remove it. You must set it separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
| Protection | What it does | Duration | Where to request it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraud alert | Asks businesses to verify your identity before issuing new credit | One year initially; seven years for an eligible confirmed identity-theft victim | One of the three nationwide credit bureaus; that bureau alerts the other two |
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to your credit file for most new-credit applications | Until you lift or remove it | Separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion |
A freeze can delay legitimate applications. Before applying for a loan, apartment, utility service, or other credit-checked service, temporarily lift the freeze through the relevant bureau and set it to return afterward.
7. Decide when to involve police
A local police report is not required for every identity-theft dispute, but it can support requests from creditors, banks, landlords, or other institutions. Bring your FTC Identity Theft Report, government photo identification, proof of address, and the evidence you preserved. Ask for a copy of the completed report and record the report number.
Call the non-emergency number unless there is an immediate safety threat. Explain which accounts or documents were used and provide copies rather than surrendering your originals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Handle specialized forms of identity theft
Tax refund or Social Security number misuse
If the IRS sends a notice saying someone used your Social Security number to claim a refund, follow the instructions in that notice and use the recovery plan from IdentityTheft.gov. Keep the notice and any confirmation numbers in your incident file.
Medical, child, employment, or benefits identity theft
These cases can require records from a health provider, school, employer, state benefits agency, or other specialized office. The specialized instructions linked from IdentityTheft.gov identify the appropriate requests and dispute process. Start those steps after securing the affected account and saving evidence.
Warning signs that your investigation should expand
Review bank statements, bills, credit reports, mail, and benefits communications for:
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- Accounts or inquiries you do not recognize
- Unexpected calls or letters from debt collectors
- Mail being redirected or benefits changing without your request
One unfamiliar item may reveal additional accounts opened with the same information, so compare the dates, addresses, phone numbers, and merchants across your records.
Should you buy identity-monitoring services?
Credit monitoring, identity monitoring, identity-recovery services, and identity-theft insurance are optional categories identified by the FTC. They do not replace calling affected companies, placing a fraud alert or freeze, obtaining all three reports, or filing the FTC report. A paid service cannot undo the immediate need to secure accounts and preserve evidence.
Quick Recap
Use official channels safely
- Type official domains directly instead of clicking links in suspicious messages.
- Never provide a one-time code, password, or full account number to an unexpected caller.
- Verify a phone number from a statement, card, or official notice—not from the suspicious message itself.
- Keep a single incident log and store reports and attachments in a secure location.
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