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There are several ways you could learn that you may be a victim of\u00a0identity theft.<\/p>\nThere are several ways you could learn that you may be a victim of\u00a0identity theft.<\/p>\n
No matter how you discover the issue, if you\u2019ve been affected by identity theft, it\u2019s important to stay calm, assess the situation, and act quickly.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re managing the recovery process on your own, here are some steps you can take to start:<\/p>\n
Request a fraud alert or credit freeze.<\/b> If you suspect fraud, we recommend placing a fraud alert on your credit file.<\/p>\n
A fraud alert makes it harder for a criminal to open a new line of credit in your name by encouraging lenders to verify your identity. To place a fraud alert, reach out to one of the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.<\/p>\n
Second, consider placing a\u00a0credit freeze\u00a0on your file. A supplement to a fraud alert, a credit freeze prevents creditors from accessing your file. To place a credit freeze, you should contact each of the credit bureaus directly.<\/p>\n
Review your credit reports and note all fraudulent accounts. <\/b>Once you reach out to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, explain that you have been a victim of identity theft and that you need copies of your credit reports immediately.<\/p>\n
When you receive your reports, review them thoroughly for any inaccuracies. If you note any fraudulent data, contact each credit bureau again and request that they remove the fraudulent accounts or information from your credit report. You should be able to do this online or by mail.<\/p>\n
You should also make a list of the companies and creditors where your information has been used without your permission. More on that in the next step.<\/p>\n
Contact all the companies where you know fraud happened.<\/b> Next, you should contact each company or financial institution where your information has been used for a transaction you did not initiate or authorize, and explain that you are a victim of identity theft.<\/p>\n
You can request that the organization freeze or close all accounts the thief may have opened or exploited.<\/p>\n
If fraud occurred at a company that you have an account with, immediately update your security settings and change your login credentials and PIN.<\/p>\n
Create an official identity theft report. <\/b>The next step is to file\u00a0an official identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n The FTC is a helpful resource for reporting the crime and may even provide you with official letters and documents you can use in your correspondence with credit bureaus and businesses.<\/p>\n For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s official page about\u00a0recovering from identity theft.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re recovering from identity theft, our services can help. If following the steps above feels overwhelming, we\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n The research. The phone calls. The paperwork. Managing identity theft recovery on your own can be time-consuming \u2014 and could\u00a0impact your mental health\u00a0as well.<\/p>\n Working with specialists like ours can help streamline the process. We help members combat identity theft every day, so our identity specialists have a game plan for facing fraud.<\/p>\n