Identity Theft Checklist (Print Ready)

What To Do Right Away

• Are you dealing with tax, medical, or child identity theft? See: Special forms of identity theft
• Call the fraud department. Explain that someone stole your identity.
• Ask them to close or freeze the accounts. Then, no one can add new charges unless you agree.
• Change logins, passwords and PINS for your accounts.
• You might have to contact these companies again after you have an FTC Identity Theft Report.
• Place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
  • Experian.com/help 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
  • TransUnion.com/credit-help 888-909-8872
  • Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services 800-685-1111

  A fraud alert is free. It will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. When you have an alert on your report, a business must verify your identity before it issues new credit in your name. You can renew the fraud alert after one year.

  You’ll get a letter from each credit bureau. It will confirm that they placed a fraud alert on your file.

• Get your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

  You can check your reports every week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Review your reports. Make note of any account or transaction you don’t recognize. This will help you report the theft to the FTC and the police.
• Complete the online form or call 1-877-438-4338. Include as many details as possible. Based on the information you enter, IdentityTheft.gov will create your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan.

  Your identity theft report proves to businesses that someone stole your identity. It also guarantees you certain rights.

  If you create an account, we'll walk you through each recovery step, update your plan as needed, track your progress, and pre-fill forms and letters for you.

  If you don't create an account, you must print and save your Identity Theft Report and recovery plan right away. Once you leave the page, you won't be able to access or update them.

• Go to your local police office with:
  • a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report
  • a government-issued ID with a photo
  • proof of your address (mortgage statement, rental agreement, or utilities bill)
  • any other proof you have of the theft (bills, IRS notices, etc.)

  Tell the police someone stole your identity and you need to file a report. Ask for a copy of the police report. You may need this to complete other steps.