After Identity Theft Checklist

What do you do if your personal information is stolen? Use this checklist to help make recovering from identity theft easier.

Identity theft is the crime of obtaining another person’s personal or financial information with the intention of assuming that person’s identity to commit fraud, usually for financial gain. As a victim of identity theft, you may feel upset and overwhelmed knowing someone has access to your private information. However, recovering from identity theft is possible. By breaking the process down into steps and using the right resources, you’ll protect yourself and move toward life after identity theft.

Eight Steps To Recovery

Call Companies Where Fraud Occurred

Obtain Credit Report & Set Fraud Alerts

Report ID Theft To Federal Trade Commission

File A Police Report

Correct Credit Report

Consider An Extended Fraud Alert Or Freeze

Contact Social Security Administration

Contact The Internal Revenue Service (If Applicable)

Summary

Remember, don’t wait to respond if you’ve been the victim of identity theft. Not only will you limit your liability for the fraudulent transactions, but you may also be able to stop the fraud from making a mess of your life. Feeling uncertain about what to do first is common, but by springing into action and following these eight steps, you’ll be on the road to rebuilding your finances.

Resources

Equifax®
To order a credit report: 800.685.1111
To report fraud: 888.766.0008
equifax.com

Experian™
To order a credit report: 888.397.3742
To report fraud: experian.com/fraud
experian.com

TransUnion®
To order a credit report: 800.888.4213
To report fraud: 800.680.7289
transunion.com

Annual Credit Report
877.322.8228
annualcreditreport.com

Federal Trade Commission
877.382.4357
Identity theft hotline: 877.438.4338
ftc.gov

Social Security Administration
800.772.1213
Identity theft hotline: 877.438.4338
ssa.gov

A man sits in a living room and looks down at a phone and smiles.
Life Guidance for:

Safety & Security

Keeping your personal and account information safe can be challenging. Use our tools and tips to help protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.

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