find out what to do if your identity is stolen.
1. Contact your financial institutions: Immediately contact your banks, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions where you have accounts. Let them know your identity has been stolen, and request to freeze or close any unauthorized accounts that have been opened in your name.
2. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports: Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Once you contact one agency, they will notify the other two. A fraud alert will make it more difficult for the identity thief to open new accounts in your name.
3. Obtain your credit reports and review them: Obtain your credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies and review them carefully. Look for any unauthorized accounts, inquiries, or charges. Report any discrepancies to the credit reporting agencies and request for any erroneous information to be removed.
4. Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): You can file an identity theft report with the FTC online at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338). This report will help you when dealing with credit reporting agencies and creditors.
5. File a police report: Visit your local police station and file an identity theft report. Provide documentation, such as your FTC identity theft report and any evidence of the identity theft. Keep a copy of the police report, as it may be required by your financial institutions and creditors.
6. Change your passwords and PINs: Change the passwords and PINs for all your accounts, including banking, credit cards, email, and any other accounts that contain personal information. Use strong and unique passwords for each account, and consider using a password manager to help keep track of them.
7. Monitor your credit regularly: Regularly review your credit reports and financial statements to watch for any signs of fraudulent activity. You can request a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
8. Implement additional security measures: Consider placing a credit freeze on your credit reports, which can prevent new accounts from being opened without your consent. You can also request two-factor authentication for your financial accounts and other accounts that contain personal information.
9. Seek assistance from a professional: If your identity theft case is complex, you may want to consider seeking help from an attorney or an identity theft recovery service.
10. Educate yourself: Learn more about how to prevent identity theft and protect your personal information by staying up-to-date on the latest scams, best practices for online security, and recommendations for identity theft prevention.