Recover when identity theft affects credit

Contain the damage

Contact fraud departments of affected banks or lenders using numbers from official sites or statements. Ask them to secure unauthorized accounts and document the conversation. Change exposed passwords, strengthen authentication, and review transactions. Contact payment providers quickly; recovery is not guaranteed.

Report at IdentityTheft.gov and follow its personalized steps. Review all three reports through AnnualCreditReport.com. List unknown accounts, inquiries, addresses, and collections. Preserve letters, confirmations, records, and a timeline.

• Do not trust a caller's link.
• Never file a false identity-theft report.
• Store recovery records securely.

Freeze each bureau separately

A security freeze is free and limits file access, making new credit harder to open in your name. Freeze separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion and protect lift credentials. A freeze does not monitor reports, repair existing fraud, prevent all identity misuse, or stop activity on existing accounts.

Keep reviewing statements and reports. Follow the official plan when asking businesses and bureaus to block fraudulent information. If identity theft is not involved, use the ordinary error-dispute process.

• Freeze all three files.
• Contact existing accounts directly.
• A freeze is different from monitoring.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• IdentityTheft.gov
• FTC: Understanding Your Credit
• FTC: Free Credit Reports