Identity Theft Recovery Guide

Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen

• Unauthorized charges on bank/credit card statements
• Bills for accounts you didn't open
• Calls from debt collectors about debts you don't recognize
• Credit report shows accounts you didn't open
• Denied credit unexpectedly due to negative items
• Tax return rejected because someone already filed with your SSN
• Medical bills for services you didn't receive
• Missing mail or unexpected address changes

Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours)

Next Steps (First Week)

1. Get Credit Reports

Get free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com (official site).

• Review for fraudulent accounts
• Document all suspicious items
• Save copies for your records

2. File Police Report

Go to local police station with:

• Identity Theft Report from FTC
• Proof of identity (driver's license)
• Proof of address (utility bill)
• Documentation of fraudulent accounts/charges

Get copy of police report - you'll need it to dispute fraudulent accounts.

3. Consider Credit Freeze

Credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened. Contact all three bureaus:

• Experian: experian.com/freeze
• TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
• Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services

Free to place and lift. You'll get PIN to temporarily unfreeze when you need credit.

4. Dispute Fraudulent Items

For each fraudulent account/charge:

• Send dispute letter to credit bureaus (use FTC templates)
• Include copies (not originals) of Identity Theft Report and police report
• Send via certified mail with return receipt
• Keep copies of everything

Long-Term Recovery (Months 1-12)

Monitor Your Credit

• Check credit reports every 3 months (stagger the three bureaus)
• Use credit monitoring service - Many banks offer free monitoring
• Set up account alerts - Get notified of new accounts or large charges
• Review bank statements weekly for unauthorized charges

Follow Up on Disputes

• Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate
• Follow up if you don't hear back
• Keep records of all correspondence
• If dispute is denied, you can add statement to credit report

Watch for Tax Fraud

• File taxes early to beat identity thieves
• Get IP PIN from IRS (prevents fraudulent tax returns)
• If someone filed with your SSN, complete IRS Form 14039

Medical Identity Theft

• Request medical records from providers
• Review for services you didn't receive
• Dispute errors with providers and insurance
• Get Medical Information Bureau report (mib.com)

Prevention Going Forward

• Keep credit freeze in place - Lift only when applying for credit
• Use strong, unique passwords - Password manager recommended
• Enable 2-factor authentication - On all important accounts
• Shred sensitive documents - Before throwing away
• Don't carry SSN card - Keep in secure location
• Be cautious with personal info - Don't overshare online
• Monitor credit regularly - Check reports at least annually
• Use secure networks - Avoid public WiFi for sensitive transactions

Important Resources

Government Resources:

• IdentityTheft.gov - File report and get recovery plan
• AnnualCreditReport.com - Free credit reports
• IRS Identity Theft: 1-800-908-4490
• SSA Fraud Hotline: 1-800-269-0271

Credit Bureaus:

• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Other Resources:

• ChexSystems: 1-800-428-9623 (banking fraud)
• National Consumer Law Center: nclc.org
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov