Call the following toll free numbers of the three credit reporting agencies (Transunion, Experian, and Equifax) and request for an initial fraud alert to be placed on your credit report. Once the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will forward that information to the other credit bureaus.

By initiating this process, lenders are required to contact you by phone to authorize any new lines of credit.

All three credit bureaus (Transunion, Experian, and Equifax) will provide you a credit report free of charge per government mandate.

TransUnion:
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com;
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Equifax:
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com;
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian:
1-888-EXPERIAN(397-3742);
www.experian.com;
P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013

As soon as you receive your credit report, go over all of the information and highlight any accounts affected by the identity theft.

Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debt on your accounts that you don’t recognize. Check personal information reported on the credit report: Social Security number, addresses, names, and employers. If you find any inaccurate information the credit bureaus have to be notified right away.

Contact your local police department and file a police report. The police may be able to catch and prosecute whoever stole your information. An official record will also reinforce your claims of fraudulent charges if creditors or credit bureaus ask for further information. Keep a copy of the police report. You may need it to validate your claims to creditors or credit bureaus.

Call your creditors and notify them that your identity has been compromised. Open investigations into any unauthorized charges, new accounts, etc… requesting that any fraudulent charges be removed and any fraudulent accounts be closed. Communicating with the creditors is of the utmost importance when dealing with identity theft. Be honest and forthcoming with all available information.

Keep a file of your correspondences and enclosures.

You can file an identity theft complaint with the FTC on-line here or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline, toll-free: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261; or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20580.

Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

Submit an Identity Theft Complaint to the CFPB, listing all of the accounts compromised in your credit. Make sure to list any addresses, phone numbers, inquiries, and accounts that you do not recognize as yours in your complaint.

You will be able to attach additional corroborating documents to your complaint so make sure that you scan and attach your police report and Identity Theft Affidavit from the FTC.

Initiate a dispute into any fraudulent accounts listed in your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion including personal information like addresses, phone numbers, employers, as well as any inquiries and accounts which you did not open.

Feel free to use this sample letter to dispute identity theft with the credit bureaus.

Explain that the accounts that you are disputing are a result of Identity Theft.

Include a copy of your police report, identity theft affidavit from the FTC, CFPB complaint number and identity verification documents (copy of your ID, social security card, and a utility bill) to verify your identity.

Send your dispute letter along with all of your supporting documentation to

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Equifax.com
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348-5069

Experian.com
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

Lost or Stolen Social Security Card?

You can apply for a free replacement card online or at your local social office.

Lost or Stolen Drivers License or ID?

You can go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to get a replacement.
Locate your local DMV office

Lost or Stolen Passport?

Call the State Department at 1-877-487-2778 or TTY 1-888-874-7793.

If you want to replace the passport you can make an appointment to apply in person at a Passport Agency or Center. You may also submit Form DS-11 and Form DS-64 in person at an authorized Passport Application Acceptance Facility.

Getting Calls or Mail from Debt Collectors for a Fraudulent Debt?

Here is a sample letter you can send debt collectors to let them know about your identity theft.

Identity Theft Impacting your Taxes?

Was your tax refund stolen through Identity Theft?
Did you get a W-2 or 1099 from an employer you don’t know?
Send a letter to the employer explaining that someone stole your identity and that you don’t work for them. Then file IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039).
You may also call the IRS for assistance at 1-800-908-4490.