If someone opened a bank account in your name, immediately contact the fraudulent bank's fraud department to close the account, then report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan, file a local police report for documentation, and place a credit freeze with Experian, Equifax (Equifax), and TransUnion (TransUnion) to prevent further fraud.
While many fraud techniques such as account takeover (breaking into someone else's bank account and draining any funds available through phishing, malware and other methods) continue to surge, criminals have also set their sights on opening new bank accounts of their own, explicitly for purposes of fraud and other ...
If your identity was stolen:
If you're a victim: Contact the bank immediately, file FTC and police reports, dispute fraudulent transactions, and secure all existing accounts.
Call or email the fraud department of the companies, banks or credit unions where accounts have been compromised. Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account.
Get in touch with your bank immediately – they should be able to put a hold on your account and also reimburse your money provided you haven't contributed to the loss and have protected your card and PIN if there has been fraudulent activity.
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).
Inform your bank, building society and credit card company of any unusual transactions on your statement. Request a copy of your credit file to check for any suspicious credit applications. Report the theft of personal documents and suspicious credit applications to the police and ask for a crime reference number.
Beware of these warning signs:
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.
Financial institutions, the police, and federal agencies typically handle credit card theft investigations. Financial Institutions: When you notice a fraudulent charge on your account or that your card is stolen, you should first contact your bank.
A scammer could use your name and address (as well as any other information they gather) when they set up their fake online profile. If they use the profile to scam people out of money, you could end up facing legal repercussions since the victim knows your identity.
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.
An extended fraud alert can be placed if you are a victim of fraud or identity theft. It requires a copy of a valid police or law enforcement agency report, or a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report, and lasts for 7 years.
Steps for Victims of Identity Theft or Fraud
You can lock your Social Security number (SSN) primarily through the myE-Verify service to prevent its use in employment verification, or get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS to block fraudulent tax filings, but you cannot "freeze" your SSN entirely, so also consider freezing your credit reports with the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for broader identity theft protection.
To check if someone is using your ID number, regularly review your credit reports, bank/credit card statements, and Social Security earnings record (ssa.gov) for unfamiliar accounts, transactions, or inquiries; look for unexpected bills, denials, or debt collection calls; and monitor for issues like tax return rejection or mail stoppage, using IdentityTheft.gov as a central resource.
Moving stolen money
A new deposit account helps criminals launder funds or receive payments linked to scams, unemployment fraud or tax refund theft.
ANZ Fraud Money Back Guarantee
We reimburse you for card fraud, as long as you comply with the product T&Cs, tell us promptly and didn't contribute to the loss.
In many cases, banks can return funds lost to scams, but the process and your level of protection vary by payment method. Your chances of getting money back depend on three key factors: the type of account or card used, how soon the fraud was reported, and how much evidence supports your claim.