How to Report Identity Theft

2 Min. Read

Our digital lives make things easier, but they also provide opportunities for identity thieves. Thieves can commit fraud using our names, Social Security numbers, credit card information and other personal financial data. Safeguarding your personal information from identity theft has become more crucial than ever. To help you stay ahead, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tips from security experts on how to fortify your defenses against identity thieves and what you can do when identity thieves attack.

If you’ve become an unfortunate victim of a stolen identity, you have the right to:

• Create an FTC Identity Theft Report
• Place a one-year fraud alert on your credit report
• Place a seven-year extended fraud alert on your credit report
• Get free copies of your credit report
• Get fraudulent information removed (or “blocked”) from your credit report
• Dispute fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit report
• Stop creditors and debt collectors from reporting fraudulent accounts
• Get copies of documents related to the identity theft
• Stop a debt collector from contacting you

Government Identity Theft Resources

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.

Credit Bureau Resources

Contact the national credit bureaus to request fraud alerts, credit freezes also known as security freezes. Click on the links below to get in contact with a credit bureau.

Equifax

Experian

TransUnion

By following these expert tips and gathering all the information you can from credit bureaus, you’ll significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim to identity theft. By staying informed on your online activities and personal information, you’ll have a better chance of staying safe.

Learn more here.