Immediate Actions to Take
1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
Take a moment to gather evidence of the theft, such as unusual transactions, unexpected bills, or notifications of account changes. Panic can lead to hasty decisions that might not be in your best interest.
2. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Visit IdentityTheft.gov to:
- File an official identity theft report
- Create a personalized recovery plan
- Get documentation to help resolve issues with creditors
3. Place a Fraud Alert and Consider a Credit Freeze
Contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit reports:
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
A credit freeze provides the strongest protection against new accounts being opened in your name.
Next Steps
Review Your Credit Reports
Obtain free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Review them carefully for unauthorized accounts or inquiries and dispute any inaccuracies.
Contact Financial Institutions
- Notify your bank and credit card companies
- Close or freeze compromised accounts
- Change all passwords and PINs
- Enable two-factor authentication
File a Police Report
This is especially important if:
- You know the identity thief
- The thief used your information in a police encounter
- A creditor requires a police report
Document Everything
Create a system to track:
- Dates of all communications
- Names of people you spoke with
- Report numbers
- Copies of correspondence
Special Circumstances
Tax Identity Theft
If your Social Security number was used for tax fraud:
- Complete IRS Form 14039
- Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit
- Continue filing your taxes
Medical Identity Theft
- Request copies of your medical records
- Report errors to healthcare providers
- Contact insurance company about fraudulent claims
Prevention and Security Measures
Regular Monitoring
"Prevention is better than cure."
Monitor your:
- Bank accounts
- Credit card statements
- Medical bills
- Insurance statements
- Social Security statements
Identity Theft Protection Services
Consider using services such as:
Information Protection
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Be cautious with personal information online
- Shred sensitive documents
- Use secure websites (look for "https://")
- Be careful with social media sharing
For additional support and resources, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for free assistance. Remember that recovery takes time and patience, but by following these steps and maintaining vigilance, you can recover and better protect yourself against future incidents.