What Should You Do If You Suspect Identity Theft?

Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to

the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov

or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.

What do I do if I think my identity has been stolen?

1. Contact one of the credit reporting agencies' fraud alert departments and place a fraud alert on your credit report. …
2. Tell the agency you think your identity has been stolen. …
3. One call does it all. …
4. Call 1-800-525-6285.
5. Visit www.equifax.com. …
6. Call 1-888-397-3742.

Who do I contact if I suspect identity theft?

If you've been a victim of Identity theft, contact police on 131 444 for further advice and assistance. You should also contact your financial institution.

IDCARE

is Australia and New Zealand's national identity & cyber support service. Our service is the only one of its type in the world.

What is the most common form of identity theft?

Financial identity theft

is the most common type of identity theft.

How can I check if my identity has been stolen?

1. Unusual bills or charges that you don't recognise appear on your bank statement.
2. Mail that you're expecting doesn't arrive.
3. You get calls following up about products and services that you've never used.
4. Strange emails appear in your inbox.

How can I check my identity theft for free?

Ask the credit bureau that's reporting the suspicious activity to place a fraud alert on your report

. This is free, and the credit bureau you contact will alert the other two. Then check your credit reports from all three credit bureaus thoroughly to look for other red flags that could signal identity theft.

How do you fight identity theft?

1. Shred financial documents before discarding them.
2. Protect your Social Security number.
3. Don't give out personal information unless you're sure who you're dealing with.
4. Don't use obvious passwords.
5. Keep your information secure.

What info is needed to steal identity?

Identity theft begins when someone takes your personally identifiable information such as

your name, Social Security Number, date of birth, your mother's maiden name, and your address to use it

, without your knowledge or permission, for their personal financial gain.

What might Identity thieves do with your identity?

Identity thieves can

steal your personal information directly

or indirectly by: Stealing your wallets and purses containing identification cards, credit cards and bank information. Stealing your mail including credit and bank statements, phone or utility bills, new checks, and tax information.

What can hackers do with your identity?

Your info could be used

to open credit cards or take out loans

. If hackers have your Social Security number, name, birthdate and address, they can open credit cards or apply for loans in your name.

Do identity thieves get caught?

Identity thieves almost never get caught

In a study done in 2006, “only 1 in 700 identity theft suspects were arrested by federal authorities (0.14%).” … It's safe to say that identity thieves are far more likely to get away with their crimes.

How long does it take to recover from identity theft?

On average, it can take

100 to 200 hours over six months

to undo identity theft. The recovery process may involve working with the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert; reviewing your credit reports to pinpoint fraudulent activity; and reporting the theft.

How can I find out if someone opened a bank account in my name?

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is

pulling your own credit reports to check

. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

How often is someone's identity stolen?

Identity theft affects

about 1 in 20 American each year

. According to Javelin's 2020 Identity Fraud Survey, 13 million consumers in the U.S. were affected by identity fraud in 2019 with total fraud losses of nearly $17 billion.

What are 2 ways that you can reduce the risk of identity theft?

Limit the number of credit and debit cards you carry with you. We recommend that you do not use debit cards because of the potential for losses to your checking account. Instead, carry

one or two credit cards

and an ATM card in your wallet. If you do use debit cards, monitor your account activity frequently.

How do I protect my identity for free?

1. Check all your financial accounts for errors or suspicious activity. …
2. Enroll in a credit monitoring service. …
3. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. …
4. Consider freezing your credit. …
5. Alert the authorities. …
6. Always use strong passwords and be aware of information you give out. …
7. Bottom line.