What do you do if someone steals your identity?

10 Things to Do if Your Identity Is Stolen

1. File a claim with your identity theft insurance, if applicable.
2. Notify companies of your stolen identity.
3. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
4. Contact your local police department.
5. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
6. Freeze your credit.

What is it called when someone tries to steal your identity?

Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud. The identity thief may use your information to apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services.

What are 5 ways your identity can be stolen?

Here are the ten ways thieves steal your identity, along with a handful of tips on how to reduce the risk of it happening to you.

• Credit Card Theft.
• Insecure Websites.
• Phishing.
• Hacking.
• Shoulder Surfing.
• Skimming.
• Fraudulent Credit Reports.
• Pretexting.

What are three ways thieves steal your identity?

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

• There are a number of ways identity thieves may obtain your personal information.
• Fraudsters may dig through mail or trash in search of credit card or bank statements.
• Unsecured web sites or public Wi-Fi may allow identity thieves to access your information electronically.

  What happens to your money if your identity is stolen?

  If your identity is stolen, you can lose money and may find it difficult to get loans, credit cards or a mortgage. Your name, address and date of birth provide enough information to create another ‘you’. An identity thief can use a number of methods to find out your personal information and will then use it to open bank accounts.

  What should I do if someone stole my identity?

  Call the fraud department at the companies and financial institutions where you know the identity thief used your personal information. Part of this step may include closing or freezing your accounts that have been compromised. 2. Contact the credit reporting agencies and place fraud alerts.

  How does an identity thief use your information?

  An identity thief can use a number of methods to find out your personal information and will then use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and apply for state benefits in your name. What signs should I look out for? There are a number of signs to look out for that may mean you are or may become a victim of identity theft:

  What to do if you are the victim of identity theft?

  Placing a flag on your driver’s license or state ID. Cleaning up your accounts. If you’re the victim of identity theft, there are important steps you need to take to help stop an identity thief from continuing to commit fraud in your name, according to the FTC.

  What to do if your identity is stolen by someone else?

  1. Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report Step number one in an identity theft scenario is to add a 90-day fraud alert to your credit report. If you contact Experian, they’ll share the fraud alert with Equifax and TransUnion. This will flag any lenders or creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts.

  What happens to your credit if your identity is stolen?

  Using your personal data, an identity thief could open new credit accounts or apply for unsecured loans. Identity theft could also damage your credit report—jeopardizing your future applications for credit cards, loans, or even jobs.

  Is it true that identity theft is on the rise?

  Identity fraud is on the rise and ignoring identity theft poses big risks to you and your financial health. According to Javelin Research and Strategy’s 2018 Identity Fraud Study, 6.64% of U.S. adults were victims of identity fraud in 2017, an increase of almost one million victims from the previous year.

  What happens if you report identity theft online?

  If you report identity theft online, you will receive an identity theft report and a recovery plan. Create an account on the website to update your recovery plan, track your progress, and receive prefilled form letters to send to creditors.