FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FTC.GOV/IDTHEFT

1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338)

IDENTITY 

THEFT

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

FTC.GOV/IDTHEFT

•	 mistakes on your bank, credit

card, or other accountstatements

•	 mistakes on the explanation

of medical benefitsfrom your

health plan

•	 your regular bills and account

statements don’t arrive on time

•	 bills or collection notices

for products orservices you

never received

•	 callsfrom debt collectors about

debtsthat don’t belong to you

•	 a notice from the IRS that

someone used your Social

Security number

•	 mail, email, or calls about

accounts or jobsin your minor

child’s name

•	 unwarranted collection notices on

your credit report

•	 businessesturn down your checks

•	 you are turned down

unexpectedly for a loan or job

Taking Charge: 

What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen 

Available online at ftc.gov/idtheft

Order free copies at bulkorder.ftc.gov 

Red Flags of Identity Theft

WHAT TO 

KNOW

WHAT 

TO DO
If Your Identity is Stolen... 

Flag Your Credit Reports

Call one of the nationwide credit reporting

companies, and ask for a fraud alert on your credit

report. The company you call must contact the other

two so they can put fraud alerts on your files. An

initial fraud alert is good for 90 days.

Equifax 1‐800‐525‐6285

Experian 1‐888‐397‐3742

TransUnion 1‐800‐680‐7289

Order Your Credit Reports 

Each company’s credit report about you isslightly

different,so order a report from each company.

When you order, you must answersome questions

to prove your identity. Read your reports carefully to

see if the information is correct. If you see mistakes or

signs of fraud, contact the credit reporting company.

Create an Identity Theft Report

An Identity Theft Report can help you get fraudulent

information removed from your credit report,stop

a company from collecting debts caused by identity

theft, and get information about accounts a thief

opened in your name. To create an Identity Theft

Report:

•	 file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint

or 1-877-438-4338; TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Your

completed complaint is called an FTC Affidavit.

•	 take your FTC Affidavit to your local police, or to

the police where the theft occurred, and file a

police report. Get a copy of the police report.

The two documents comprise an Identity Theft Report.

How to Protect Your Information 

•	 Read your credit reports. You have a right to

a free credit report every 12 monthsfrom

each of the three nationwide credit reporting

companies. Order all three reports at once,

or order one report every four months.

To order, go to annualcreditreport.com or

call 1-877-322-8228.

•	 Read your bank, credit card, and account

statements, and the explanation of medical

benefitsfrom your health plan. If a statement

has mistakes or doesn’t come on time, contact

the business.

•	 Shred all documentsthatshow personal,

financial, and medical information before you

throw them away.

•	 Don’t respond to email, text, and phone

messagesthat ask for personal information.

Legitimate companies don’t ask for information

this way. Delete the messages.

•	 Create passwordsthat mix letters, numbers, and

special characters. Don’t use the same password

for more than one account.

•	 If you shop or bank online, use websites

that protect your financial information with

encryption. An encrypted site has “https” at the

beginning of the web address; “s” isforsecure.

•	 If you use a public wireless network, don’t

send information to any website that isn’t

fully encrypted.

•	 Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a

firewall on your computer.

•	 Set your computer’s operating system,

web browser, and security system to

update automatically.

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a serious crime. It can disrupt your

finances, credit history, and reputation, and take

time, money, and patience to resolve. Identity

theft happens when someone steals your personal

information and usesit without your permission.

Identity thieves might:

•	 go through trash cans and dumpsters,

stealing bills and documentsthat have

sensitive information.

•	 work for businesses, medical offices, or

government agencies, and steal personal

information on the job.

•	 misuse the name of a legitimate business, and

call orsend emailsthat trick you into revealing

personal information.

•	 pretend to offer a job, a loan, or an apartment,

and ask you to send personal information

to “qualify.”

•	 steal your wallet, purse, backpack, or mail,

and remove your credit cards, driver’slicense,

passport, health insurance card, and other items

thatshow personal information.