If your identity is stolen, two crucial immediate actions are to secure your accounts by changing passwords and placing fraud alerts/freezes with credit bureaus, and report the crime to the FTC (IdentityTheft.gov) and your financial institutions to stop further damage and begin recovery. These steps stop immediate misuse and start the official process of reclaiming your identity.
How to report identity theft. To report identity theft, contact: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The three major credit reporting agencies.
What to do if you think your identity has been stolen.
Report all lost or stolen documents containing personal information, such as passports, driving licences, credit cards and cheque books to the organisation that issued them. Inform your bank, building society and credit card company of any unusual transactions on your statement.
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.
You also can lock your SSN by visiting the Department of Homeland Security's myE-Verify website. Activating the site's Self Lock feature can stop someone from using your SSN for employment fraud. Keep in mind that you're not able to "freeze" your SSN, meaning that it can't be used at all.
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.
What Can Scammers Do With Your ID or Driver's License?
If your identity was stolen:
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Request your reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review each report for unfamiliar bank or financial institution names, recent credit inquiries you didn't make, and open accounts you don't recognize.
Signs of identity theft
Potentially access some of your accounts.
In combination with your Social Security number (SSN), account numbers, or login credentials, your name and date of birth can be used to access your accounts. Scammers might even use your birthdate to bypass some account security questions and verification steps.
Once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. An identity thief might even file a tax return in your name and get your refund.
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.
To request a different Social Security number, contact your local Social Security office for an in-person appointment.
File a report with your local police department.
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.
Financial identity theft.
This is the most common form of identity theft — when someone uses another person's information for financial gain.
One way is to regularly review your credit and personal information for signs of suspicious activity. Another is to subscribe to a service like the TransUnion Credit Alert service. When anyone applies for credit from any credit or service provider, an enquiry on that person's credit report is made at a credit bureau.
Some of the worst-case scenarios linked to SSN fraud include criminals opening bank accounts under a fake or someone else's identity, using newly obtained credit cards for fraudulent transactions, or even accessing medical services and receiving huge loans, putting the businesses and their victims behind in debt.
Yes, someone can steal your identity with your government-issued ID or driver's license. Any documents that contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII) – including your full name, home address, date of birth, photo or even your signature – can be used to steal your identity and target you with phishing scams.
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.
Early Warning Services, LLC is owned by seven large U.S. banks: Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. These are among the largest banks in the country, and their joint ownership shapes how EWS operates and what data flows through its systems.
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.