To prevent someone from opening a bank account in your name, place a security freeze on your credit reports (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and a separate freeze with ChexSystems, which tracks banking history, and consider adding a fraud alert for initial protection. Regularly check your bank statements and credit reports for unknown accounts and report any suspicious activity immediately to your bank and the FTC.
Freezing your credit can help stop identity theft. When a credit freeze is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name. There's no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn't affect your credit score.
Someone has opened an account in my name
You might start to get letters from banks you don't have accounts with, credit cards you've never applied for, or from debt collectors you know nothing about. If this happens, contact your bank straight away and make sure you keep all correspondence.
Stolen Identities: Criminals steal personal information to access existing bank or other online accounts. With this stolen identity, they can open new accounts in their victim's name, ruining their reputation and credit in the process.
Contact your bank: Ask them to withhold pending transactions and ask about their claims process if any money has been taken fraudulently. Change your passwords and PINs: This should include bank accounts, email addresses and social media accounts.
Protect Yourself from Brushing Scams
If someone opened up accounts in my name without my permission, is this identity theft? If anyone, including a spouse, family member, or intimate partner, uses your personal information to open up an account in your name without your permission, this could be considered identify theft.
Go to your local police office with:
Financial identity theft.
This is the most common form of identity theft — when someone uses another person's information for financial gain.
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.
These are some warning signs that someone may have stolen your identity:
Prevention tips
What can I do if I'm being impersonated online?
Beware of these warning signs:
You may be at risk of becoming a victim of identity fraud. For £30 for two years, our Protective Registration service reduces that risk. Please note you can only apply for a Protective Registration using our online application form. We do not accept applications over the telephone.
To check if someone opened a bank account in your name, request free reports from checking account reporting companies. You should also monitor your credit reports monthly, as new bank accounts may appear there.
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
3. Check Your Credit Reports
How to spot it: Get your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review it for accounts you didn't open or inquiries you don't recognize. A new credit card, a personal loan, or a car loan will appear as a new account.
Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information
Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report. Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
What to do if your Social Security number is on the dark web
If you're not careful, identity thieves can open bank accounts in your name and use them to launder money, apply for new credit cards, and commit tax fraud. You can protect your identity by locking down your online accounts and by being on the lookout for scams.
Generally, negative information remains on ChexSystems and/or Early Warning Services (EWS) consumer reports for five years. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, certain negative information may be reported for up to seven years.
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. If you suspect someone stole your personal information or identity, placing a credit freeze can help protect you from fraud.