Immediately contact the fraud department of companies where accounts were compromised to freeze them, change all passwords/PINs, and place a free fraud alert on your credit report with one of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion). Next, report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov to create an official recovery plan.
If your identity was stolen:
Contact the organization or company involved. Tell them your information was lost or exposed, and ask what you can do to prevent an identity thief from using it. Learn more about how to protect your personal information from identity theft and online privacy and security.
Steps for Victims of Identity Theft or Fraud
Yes, you can get a new Social Security number (SSN) if you're a victim of identity theft, but only if you're experiencing ongoing problems that can't be fixed otherwise, requiring extensive documentation of the misuse and your identity for the Social Security Administration (SSA). You'll need to prove identity, age, and citizenship/immigration status, and show evidence of the identity theft's continuing harm, like financial issues or harassment, after trying to resolve it.
How identity theft happens
Yes, police do take action on identity theft, but their involvement varies; they often rely heavily on victims filing reports with the FTC to build a case, investigate if there are clear leads or a pattern, and may assign investigators if the crime is clearly local, but can struggle with jurisdictional issues or resource limitations, making the police report crucial for you to resolve fraudulent debts with creditors.
Freezing your credit can help stop identity theft. When a credit freeze is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name. There's no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn't affect your credit score.
What to do if your Social Security number is on the dark web
Exactly how long it takes depends on the type of identity theft that took place and how quickly it was discovered. The process of untangling identity theft can take days, month, or even years. This is because each case of identity theft is unique, and the recovery timeline can depend on many factors.
ID theft victims should reach out to law enforcement
When you go to the police station, bring supporting documents such as: Copies of bills or collection notices. Credit reports with fraudulent charges. Bank or credit card statements.
Here's how to tell if identity theft has already happened:
Will locking my SSN protect me from identity theft? The answer here is pretty unsatisfying: It might. Locking your Social Security number can prevent employment identity theft or stop a criminal from collecting government benefits in your name. But it won't prevent all forms of ID theft.
An IP PIN is a six-digit number issued by the IRS to help prevent others from filing fraudulent tax returns in your name using your Social Security number or ITIN. The fastest way to get an IP PIN is through an IRS online account. You can sign up for a one-time IP PIN or to have them sent to you every year.
What can someone do with your phone number?
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
Identity fraud
This often happens with a copy of your ID. For example, with a copy of your ID showing your name, date of birth and BSN, fraudsters can apply for a loan or set up a mobile phone contract. As a result, you could receive bills for things you did not buy. Do not let your ID be copied by just anyone.