STEP 1: Call Companies Where Fraud Occurred
- Inform them of the fraud
- Close account (if necessary)
- Change logins, passwords, and PINs
STEP 2: Obtain Credit Report & Set Fraud Alerts
- Visit annualcreditreport.com to obtain a credit report from 3 major credit reporting bureaus
- Review each report carefully
- Set fraud alerts with each credit reporting bureau
STEP 3: Report ID Theft to Federal Trade Commission
- Visit identitytheft.gov or call (877) 438-4338 to complete the Identity Theft Report
- Follow established recovery plan
STEP 4: File a Police Report
- Contact local law enforcement to inform them of theft
- Provide a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report
STEP 5: Correct Credit Report information
- Submit disputes to each credit reporting bureau that contains fraudulent account information
- Can be completed online at the credit bureau’s website or by mailing a dispute letter
STEP 6: Consider an Extended Fraud Alert or Freeze
- Extended fraud alerts last for seven years
- Credit freezes last until you remove them
STEP 7: Contact Social Security Administration
- Create a My Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount/
- Review the earnings posted to your record
- Contact Social Security if you see inconsistencies
STEP 8: Contact the Internal Revenue Service (if applicable)
- Respond immediately to any IRS notice by calling the number provided
