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- File a claim with your identity theft insurance, if applicable. If you have an identity theft protection plan, your provider should be able to guide you through many of the following steps.
- Notify companies of your stolen identity. Don't wait to notify any company where fraudulent transactions or accounts have occurred. Call them immediately to alert them to the problem.
- File a report with the FTC. The FTC compiles information about identity theft cases. It doesn't have the ability to pursue criminal charges, but its information may be used by law enforcement agencies such as the FBI to track down perpetrators.
- Contact your local police department. The next step is to file a report with your local police department. "The police report is to protect yourself," Tanenbaum says.
Sep 25, 2020 · September 25, 2020. Did someone use your personal information to open up a new mobile account or credit card? Or maybe buy stuff with one of your existing accounts? Or did they file for unemployment or taxes in your name? That’s identity theft. If any of this happened to you, the FTC wants to help you stop the damage and start recovering.
- Contact the companies and banks where the fraud occurred. One of the first things you’ll want to do if your identity is stolen is assess the damage and contact any company where your identity was used by an identity thief.
- Place fraud alerts with the three credit bureaus. Next, you’ll want to contact at least one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
- Ask for copies of your credit reports. After placing the initial fraud alert, you can request a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau.
- Place a security freeze on your credit report. If you know your identifying information has been stolen, you may want to freeze your credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing any information in your credit report without your express approval.
Mar 4, 2019 · If you suspect that you are the victim of identify theft, follow this step-by-step recovery process.
Apr 23, 2024 · Here’s what you can do to spot identity theft: Track 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. Charges for things you didn’t buy could be a sign of identity theft. So could a new bill you didn’t expect.
Jun 7, 2022 · United States. If you suspect ANY improper or illegal activity is taking place, follow the seven steps below immediately. We also help you find out how much identity theft might cost you. 1. Check Your Credit Report. Get a copy of your credit report to see if any new accounts or credit inquiries show up.
If you believe you're a victim of identity theft or fear that you might become one because your sensitive personal information — like your Social Security number, birth date, address, and driver's license number — was stolen, you should consider taking these steps immediately. 1.
