# Someone stole your identity: what to do first > Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; it’s free and stops new accounts. Report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan and an official report. Call the fraud departments of companies where accounts were opened, check your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, change passwords, turn on two-step login, and get an IRS Identity Protection PIN. - URL: https://explained.page/identity-theft - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=identity-theft ## Step by step 1. **Someone used your name to open accounts?** Move fast, but don’t panic. Lock things down first, then clean up, one step at a time. 2. **Freeze your credit at all three bureaus.** It’s free. A freeze stops new accounts from being opened in your name. You can lift it when you need credit. 3. **Report it at IdentityTheft.gov.** It’s the FTC’s free site. You get a step-by-step recovery plan and an official report to dispute fraud. 4. **Call the companies where fraud happened.** Ask the fraud department to close the fake accounts and send you a letter saying you’re not responsible. 5. **Check your credit reports.** Get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything you don’t recognize. 6. **Change passwords and turn on two-step login.** Start with your email and bank. Use a different password for each account, and never share codes sent to your phone. 7. **Protect your taxes too.** An IRS Identity Protection PIN helps stop someone from filing a tax return in your name. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Freeze your credit at all three bureaus - Report it at IdentityTheft.gov - Call fraud departments - Check your credit reports - Change passwords and turn on two-step login - Get an IRS IP PIN ## Lock things down Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It’s free, it stops new accounts, and you can lift it when you need credit. A fraud alert is another option: place it with one bureau and it notifies the others. ## Report it Go to IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s free site. You’ll get a personal recovery plan and an official identity theft report. ## Clean up - Call the fraud departments of companies where accounts were opened. Ask them to close the accounts and confirm in writing that you’re not responsible. - Get your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute anything you don’t recognize. - Some companies ask for a police report; your FTC report helps. ## Protect what’s left Change passwords, starting with email and bank, and turn on two-step login. Never share codes sent to your phone. Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN to protect your tax return. ## Common questions ### Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score? No. A freeze doesn’t affect your score, and you can still use your existing cards and accounts. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/does-a-credit-freeze-hurt-my-credit-score ### Should I pay for an identity protection service? You can do the most important steps yourself for free: freezes, free reports and IdentityTheft.gov. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/should-i-pay-for-an-identity-protection-service ### What is the difference between a credit freeze and a fraud alert? A freeze blocks new credit from being opened until you lift it. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify it’s really you before opening credit. Both are free. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-a-credit-freeze-and-a-fraud-alert ### Do I need a police report for identity theft? Not always. Your report from IdentityTheft.gov works for many companies. Some still ask for a police report too. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/do-i-need-a-police-report-for-identity-theft ### How do I know if someone is using my Social Security number? Watch for accounts you don’t recognize on your credit reports, IRS letters about income you didn’t earn, or debt collectors calling about debts that aren’t yours. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/how-do-i-know-if-someone-is-using-my-social-security-number ### Will I have to pay the debts the thief ran up? Usually not, once you report the fraud and dispute the accounts. Ask each company for a letter confirming you’re not responsible. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/will-i-have-to-pay-the-debts-the-thief-ran-up ### How long does it take to recover from identity theft? Simple cases can be cleared up in weeks; complex ones can take months. Keep a log of every call, letter and date. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-identity-theft ### Should I lift my credit freeze to apply for a loan? Yes, temporarily. You can lift it for a set time at the bureau the lender uses, then it freezes again. Source page: https://explained.page/identity-theft/questions/should-i-lift-my-credit-freeze-to-apply-for-a-loan ## Official sources - [IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)](https://www.identitytheft.gov/) - [AnnualCreditReport.com: free credit reports](https://www.annualcreditreport.com/) - [IRS: identity protection](https://www.irs.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "identitytheft.gov report" - "freeze credit Equifax Experian TransUnion" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.