Identity protection
How to Report Identity Theft
Official reporting starts at IdentityTheft.gov. This guide explains when to file, what you get back, and how to avoid fake “FTC agents” who call first.
Exposure versus theft
IdentityTheft.gov splits the two paths. If nobody has used the information yet, follow the lost-or-exposed steps: check credit, freeze if needed, and match actions to the data type. If someone already opened an account, made a purchase, applied for a loan, used the number for work, filed taxes, or claimed benefits, that is the “Yes” path: report the theft. How to report identity theft only after you have a real sign of misuse keeps you out of panic filings. A marketing call is not theft. A car loan you never signed is.
What the FTC report actually gives you
When you file at IdentityTheft.gov you can receive:
The FTC says the report makes it easier to close new accounts, remove charges, correct credit files, and consider an extended fraud alert or a freeze. The CFPB points consumers to the same starting place, plus contact with banks and police. Keep a folder: the report, freeze confirmations, bank letters, and dates of calls.
- An Identity Theft Report that helps prove the theft to businesses
- A recovery plan with next steps
- Sample letters
Before you file, gather facts — not passwords
Useful details:
Do not paste leaked passwords into the form. Do not upload a raw dump. Describe the harm. Order reports at AnnualCreditReport.com first if you can. The plan works better when you can name the fake accounts.
- Which accounts or bills are wrong
- Dates you noticed them
- Which official notice, if any, named the data type
- Addresses or employers on credit reports that are not yours
After you submit the report
Work the plan in order.
The CFPB notes that scammers impersonate the FTC and other agencies during this exact week. The real agency will not tell you to move cash, buy gold, or stay on the line.
- Close or freeze compromised financial accounts with the real bank number on the card or statement
- Place or confirm credit freezes at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Ask about an extended fraud alert once you have the Identity Theft Report
- Dispute fraudulent items with the bureaus using the report
- Follow IRS steps if taxes are involved, including an IP PIN when the IRS offers that protection
- Tell local police if your plan or a business asks for a police report
Reporting is not the same as deletion
A report documents misuse. It does not promise that every copy of your data will disappear, that a company will pay you, or that a case will end on a fixed date. Outcomes depend on the facts. File anyway. The paperwork is what businesses and bureaus ask for. You can also tell the FTC about the scam itself at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. That is a separate consumer complaint from the identity-theft recovery plan.
If you are not ready to call it theft
Stay on the exposure path:
You can file later if a fake account appears. IdentityTheft.gov is still there. Knowing how to report identity theft is really knowing which door to open: exposure tools for a leak, IdentityTheft.gov for misuse, and official banks for money already in motion.
- Unique passwords and MFA on email
- Credit reports and a freeze if an SSN may be involved
- Watch tax transcripts through official IRS accounts only
Practical checklist
- Confirm there is misuse, not only a leaked email.
- Pull reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- File at IdentityTheft.gov and save the report.
- Freeze credit at all three bureaus.
- Contact banks using known numbers.
- Use the sample letters in the recovery plan.
- Add tax steps through official IRS pages if needed.
- Ignore unexpected “FTC agent” calls.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file a police report first?
Not always. IdentityTheft.gov is the federal starting point. Some businesses or an extended alert process may also ask for a local report. Follow the plan you receive.
Can someone file for me?
Be careful. A family member helping you type the official site is different from a paid caller who wants the Social Security number in a chat. Stay on identitytheft.gov.
Does reporting fix my credit score immediately?
No. Reporting starts disputes and alerts. Cleanup takes time and documentation.
Sources
This guide is reviewed against official guidance. External pages may be updated by their respective owners.