How to File an FTC Identity Theft Report

IdentityTheft.gov turns your report into a recovery plan. Here is what the report is, how to file it, and what it unlocks.

You found a charge you never made, or a bill for an account you never opened. The FTC says to visit IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and get a recovery plan.

What the report is, and what it is not

The FTC says identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge or permission to commit fraud or theft. USAGov says the same thing in plain words. Someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. You may not know right away that it happened to you. A strange bill is often the first clue.

Experian says that to stop a business reporting information that came from identity theft, you must provide an identity theft report.

How to file the report

USAGov says to report identity theft to the FTC. The online form at IdentityTheft.gov is one way to do it. The FTC's identity theft phone line is another way to file.

Experian says the FTC has a website just for identity theft. It walks victims through the steps. File with what you know today.

The FTC says IdentityTheft.gov gives you a recovery plan. USAGov says to use IdentityTheft.gov's list of steps to help you recover. Keep a copy somewhere you can find it again.

What an identity theft report includes

Experian's page says an identity theft report includes a copy of a report you filed with a law enforcement agency.

Why you may also need a police report

The FTC report is the core document, but a police report can sit beside it. Experian says you may also make a report of identity theft to your local police department. A police report may help a lot if you have details the police can use. It may also matter if a creditor or other entity requires you to file one.

Experian says a business may ask you for proof of your identity, a police report, and an affidavit before giving you documents about the fraud. It also says a business can refuse to give you these documents in certain cases. For the steps involved, see how to file a identity theft police report.

What else you can ask for

Experian, the CFPB and the FTC describe several protections for identity theft victims.

Extended fraud alerts. Experian says identity theft victims are entitled to an extended fraud alert lasting 7 years. The CFPB says if you think you may have been a victim of identity theft, you can also file a fraud alert. The FTC says you can place one even if you only suspect theft. The FTC says credit freezes and fraud alerts can also help stop someone who already stole your identity from misusing it again.

Blocking fraudulent items in your credit file. Experian says you can ask a credit bureau to block false items in your file that came from identity theft. If the agency declines or takes back the block, it must notify you.

Stopping businesses from reporting the fraud. Experian says you can stop a business from reporting false information about you that came from identity theft. To do it, you must send your request to the address the business gives and provide an identity theft report. This is where your FTC report earns its keep.

Getting another free credit report. The FTC says fraud can make your credit report wrong. If that happens, you can get another free report.

You may also have extra rights under state law. Experian says you can contact your local consumer protection agency or state Attorney General.

Who else to tell

The FTC report does not replace telling the companies involved. USAGov says to tell the fraud department at each company. That means your credit card issuers, your bank, and any other place you have an account. Tell them what happened. If you spot charges you did not make, you can dispute them with the company that billed you. If the theft started with a scam call, you can also report scam calls.

For a fuller picture of the whole recovery process, start with what to do if identity theft strikes you.

What to watch for while you recover

Filing the report is a milestone, not the finish line. Identity thieves can use your information to drain your bank account or run up charges on your credit cards, the FTC says. Identity theft can also damage your credit with unpaid bills and past due accounts. So keep watching.

USAGov lists warning signs worth knowing:

Bills for items you did not buy
Debt collection calls for accounts you did not open
Information on your credit report for accounts you did not open
Mail that stops coming to or is missing from your mailbox

USAGov says to check your credit card and bank statements. Watch for charges you did not make. Report anything odd. TransUnion says to check your credit report for accounts you do not recognize. It also says to check your statements for purchases you did not make.

The FTC says mistakes on your credit report can be a sign of identity theft. Check your report often. Make that a habit, not a one-time check.

If someone filed a tax return in your name, USAGov says completing the Identity Theft Affidavit will invalidate a fraudulent return filed using your information.

Was it a scam, not a one-time theft? You can also report fraud FTC gov.