Fraud Cleanup

What Identity Fraud Is and How to Spot It

Someone using your name or accounts without permission is identity fraud. Here is what it is, the warning signs, and your first moves.

What identity fraud is, in plain terms

Identity fraud means a stranger takes your personal or financial details and uses them as if they were you. USAGov says it plainly. Identity theft occurs when a person takes your personal or financial details and uses them without asking you first.

The FTC describes the same thing in more detail. The FTC defines identity theft as the use of your personal details by someone else, done without your knowledge or consent. The goal is to steal money or pull off a scam. The CFPB says identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud. TransUnion says an imposter takes over your personal information. Then they commit fraud in your name.

All four say close to the same thing. A stranger gets facts about you. Think your name, your Social Security number, or your account numbers. Then they use those facts to take your money or open accounts in your name.

Is identity fraud the same as identity theft?

This page uses the two phrases to mean the same thing. Do not let the word choice slow you down. What matters is that someone has your information and is using it.

Warning signs that someone is using your identity

USAGov says you may not know right away that you experienced identity theft. That is the hard part. The thief works quietly, and the damage shows up later.

USAGov lists warning signs worth memorizing:

  • You get billed for purchases you never made.
  • A collector calls about a debt on an account that is not yours.
  • Your credit file lists accounts that belong to someone else.
  • Letters that used to arrive regularly no longer show up.

The FTC adds one more: mistakes on your credit report might be a sign of identity theft. TransUnion advises checking your credit file for any account that looks unfamiliar. TransUnion also suggests scanning your monthly statements for charges you never authorized.

Any one of these is a reason to act.

The common ways identity fraud happens

USAGov says scammers can steal your identity in person, online, through social media, and by phone. Here is how that looks in practice.

Old-fashioned theft. Scammers may steal your wallet or purse to get ID, credit, or bank cards. They may also go through your trash to retrieve bank statements or tax documents.

Card skimmers. Scammers may install skimmers at ATM machines, cash registers, and fuel pumps. A skimmer reads your card data without you knowing it.

Open Wi-Fi networks. USAGov warns that your phone can leak personal details while it sits on a public network.

Phishing. Scammers may use fraudulent email, texts, or phone calls to get information from you.

Social media and quizzes. Scammers may look through your social media posts and photos. They are looking for identifying information in posts or photos. They may also ask for personal information in online quizzes and surveys.

So yes, identity fraud can happen online, and it can also happen at a gas pump or through your trash. The route matters less than the fact that your information got out.

Why your credit report is the place to look first

An account a thief opens in your name can show up on your credit report. The FTC says a thief may use your personal information to open a credit card in your name. The FTC also says identity theft can hurt your credit. Unpaid bills and past due accounts pile up.

Your credit report is where that paper trail lands. That is why USAGov lists strange accounts on your credit report as a warning sign. That is also why TransUnion tells people to scan for any account that seems foreign to them.

The FTC says to visit AnnualCreditReport.com to order your free annual credit reports. It also says you can always get a free weekly credit report there. And the FTC says that site is the only authorized place to get the free annual credit reports you are entitled to by law. If you want a full walkthrough, see our page on how check for identity theft.

What to do in the first days after you spot it

Start with two moves.

Pull your credit file. Get it from AnnualCreditReport.com and search it for anything that was not set up by you.

Report it. USAGov says to report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Filing works through the IdentityTheft.gov website or over the phone. The FTC says to visit IdentityTheft.gov. You can report identity theft there and get a recovery plan. USAGov also says to use the list of steps at IdentityTheft.gov. They help you recover from identity theft.

USAGov says to report it to the fraud department at your credit card issuers and bank too. Also tell any other place where you have accounts.

One more thing. If someone has your Social Security number, see our page on identity theft social security.

Where to go next for the detailed steps

This page is a starting point, not a full recovery guide. The detailed steps live on our other pages.

Need a police report? Our page on how to file a identity theft police report explains how.

Identity fraud is not a wait-and-see problem. Check your credit report, report what you find, and let the detailed guides take it from there.

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