To check if your ID or personal information is being used fraudulently, immediately request a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, look for unauthorized accounts, and monitor bank statements for unknown transactions. Key indicators include receiving bills for services you didn't order, unexpected debt collection calls, or notices from the IRS regarding, for example, multiple tax returns filed in your name.
Here are some simple ways to check if your identity has been stolen.
Report the Fraud to the Three Major Credit Bureaus
The system will ask you to enter your Social Security number and other information to identify yourself. The automated system allows you to flag your file with a fraud alert at all three bureaus. This helps stop a thief from opening new accounts in your name.
To report identity theft, contact: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The three major credit reporting agencies. Ask them to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts.
California law limits the public display of Social Security numbers. A California law bars organizations from publicly displaying SSNs 2. The law prohibits: Printing SSNs on ID cards or badges.
Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information
Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report. Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.
Yes, you should take steps to "lock" or protect your Social Security Number (SSN) by using free services like credit freezes and SSN locks (like E-Verify Self Lock), and by being cautious about sharing it, as this significantly helps prevent employment fraud, tax scams, and unauthorized access to accounts. While no single lock stops all identity theft, combining freezes, locks, monitoring your accounts, and limiting SSN disclosure offers strong defense against fraudsters using your SSN for loans, jobs, or benefits.
What Can Scammers Do With Your ID or Driver's License?
What to do if your Social Security number is on the dark web
Spot the Warning Signs
To check if your info is compromised, use sites like Have I Been Pwned for email breaches and monitor credit reports via AnnualCreditReport.com for new accounts; watch for signs like unexpected emails (password resets, spam), unrecognized logins/charges, or bills for things you didn't buy, then change passwords and enable 2FA immediately.
Check your credit report to see if an identity thief has used your information. Get your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Review the reports, and if you see an account or debt you don't recognize, contact the company and ask about it.
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
To check if someone opened a bank account in your name, request free reports from checking account reporting companies. You should also monitor your credit reports monthly, as new bank accounts may appear there.
Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes. Order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
After identity theft, the three most crucial steps are: 1) Report it to the FTC (and get a recovery plan), 2) Contact companies where fraud occurred to freeze/close accounts & change passwords, and 3) Place a fraud alert/freeze on your credit reports with the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent new accounts from being opened.
Many banks, government agencies, and other financial institutions only ask for the last four digits to confirm your identity. With those four digits, plus a bit more of your personal information, scammers could open accounts, access your bank, or apply for benefits in your name.
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
Use breach-check websites
Type in your email or username in breach-check websites to see if your information has been leaked in the past. They let you know if your name, email, or phone address has appeared in recent data dumps.
To check for loans in your name, get your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and look for unfamiliar accounts or hard inquiries; also, monitor bank/card statements for unauthorized transactions and report any findings immediately to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. Key signs include new accounts, unknown loans, or inquiries you didn't authorize, indicating potential identity theft.