If you become a victim of identity theft, you should first contact the fraud departments of companies where accounts were compromised, close or freeze those accounts, and place a fraud alert with one of the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) to notify the others, then file a report at IdentityTheft.gov to create a 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.
How to tell if someone is using your identity
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
Get help for identity theft
If someone has used your SSN to open a new account or make a purchase: Report it at IdentityTheft.gov and find out what to do next, including obtaining an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.
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
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.
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.
When your identity is stolen, the three crucial first steps are: 1) Report it to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan, 2) Freeze your credit with all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to block new accounts, and 3) Contact businesses where fraud occurred to close accounts and dispute charges, then file a police report for an official record.
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.
Financial identity (ID) theft is the most common type of identity theft. However, ID theft can happen in many forms. Early detection is key to minimizing damage when your personal information is stolen. There are measures you can take to help better protect yourself and your personal information.
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.
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.
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.
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). Once requested, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record is blocked.