Digital Safety Desk

Identity theft response

Work the problem in the right order.

If you see unfamiliar charges, accounts, tax filings, or credit changes, secure the immediate risk and document every step.

6 prioritized actionsUS consumer resources
An organized identity theft response checklist on a desk

  1. Secure the affected account

    Change the password from a trusted device, sign out other sessions, update recovery information, and enable multifactor authentication. Contact the provider's fraud team.

  2. Review financial activity

    Check bank and card statements. Report unauthorized transactions promptly and ask what documentation is required.

  3. Review your credit reports

    Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized source, and save copies of all three reports.

  4. Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze

    A fraud alert asks creditors to verify identity. A freeze restricts access to your credit file. Review the differences through the FTC.

  5. Create an FTC recovery plan

    Report the incident at IdentityTheft.gov and follow the personalized recovery steps.

  6. Monitor and document

    Track calls, letters, dispute deadlines, and account changes. Revisit reports and statements for new activity.

Educational information only. This is not legal or financial advice.