Clearing your name from stolen identity requires immediate and coordinated action with authorities, financial institutions, and support services. In Australia, the national identity support service is IDCARE, which provides free, confidential support and a tailored response plan.
Tools/Resources for Victims
It can help mitigate some of the risks of having a criminal create fraudulent accounts or take out unlawful loans in your name and gain access to your bank or brokerage accounts and credit cards. Freezing your credit and Social Security number is free. It won't impact your credit score.
Signs of identity theft
Check your credit report to see if an identity thief has used your information. Get your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Review the reports, and if you see an account or debt you don't recognize, contact the company and ask about it.
Identity Theft: If you think an identity thief is using your SSN to work or to collect benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. If you think someone may be using your SSN to work, check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement.
Beware of these warning signs:
What to do if you think your identity has been stolen.
Check your Experian Credit Report
You can do this by requesting your free statutory credit report, or by signing up to CreditExpert. This will let you see if there's anything you don't recognise. If there is, we can help you query it with the lender.
Yes, someone can potentially take money using just your BSB and account number, primarily through setting up unauthorized direct debits (if they get past security checks) or combining them with other personal info for more complex fraud, but it's much harder to withdraw funds like an ATM withdrawal without your PIN or login details; the main risk is setting up recurring payments or using them with other stolen data like your driver's license, so always share details with trusted entities and monitor your statements closely.
If someone steals your SSN, they can use it to: Secure employment. Open bank accounts or obtain credit cards. Rent property or sign up for utilities.
Lock Your Social Security Number
To block electronic access to your SSN, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. Once you've made your request, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security file is blocked.
The most misused SSN of all time was (078-05-1120). In 1938, wallet manufacturer the E. H. Ferree company in Lockport, New York decided to promote its product by showing how a Social Security card would fit into its wallets. A sample card, used for display purposes, was inserted in each wallet.
What Can Scammers Do With Your ID or Driver's License?
Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts. Credit freezes and fraud alerts can help protect you from identity theft by making it harder for scammers to open new credit accounts in your name. They can also help stop someone who already stole your identity from misusing it again.
The "15" and "3" refer to the days before your credit card statement's closing date. Specifically, the rule suggests you make one payment 15 days before your statement closes and another payment three days before it closes.
If your identity was stolen:
HMRC can check your bank account without your permission by using a Financial Institution Notice. HMRC checks on personal bank accounts can be triggered by inconsistent tax returns or reports by whistleblowers. HMRC can recover funds directly from your bank account – but only in specific circumstances.
Identity theft can have serious consequences for you and your family. It can negatively affect your credit, get you sued for debts that are not yours, result in incorrect and potentially health-threatening information being added to your medical records, and may even get you arrested.
Here's how to tell if identity theft has already happened:
The greatest danger of scammers having both your name and date of birth is that it makes it easier for them to track down your leaked personally identifiable information (PII) on the Dark Web. In a worst case scenario, even your basic information can be used to gather enough data to steal your identity.
Review the earnings posted to your record on your Social Security Statement and report any inconsistencies to us. Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes.
Examples of red flags include inconsistent or unusual activity in a credit report, Social Security number verifications that don't match up and requests for a new credit or debit card less than 30 days after an address change.
Identity Theft Facts
Most stolen cards are used within 48 hours, so it is important to report a missing card immediately.