Identity theft

Accounts on your credit report that you don't recognize.

This page lists what to write down and gather. Then answer a few questions and get a plain-English summary of your rights, plus the free official steps - reporting, blocking, fraud alerts and freezes. No credit pull, no report upload.

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Which items should you write down first?

Record what the report says before deciding what it means. An unfamiliar name is not proof of fraud on its own.

The creditor name as printed, the account number shown, and the date opened
Whether the name could be a servicer, bank issuer, or trade name for an account you already have
Hard inquiries with the date and the company listed
Collections, including the original creditor if one is listed
Addresses, employers, or name variations that are not yours

What are the official identity theft steps?

These are the steps described on IdentityTheft.gov and the FTC's consumer pages. Keep a copy of everything at every step.

Get your reports and list the items you do not recognize.
Report the identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and keep the identity theft report.
Consider a fraud alert, a security freeze, or both, depending on your situation - they do different things and can be used together.
Ask each bureau reporting the fraudulent information to block it: identify the specific items, state that they do not relate to any transaction by you, and include your IdentityTheft.gov identity theft report and proof of identity.
Contact the company that reported the account and keep every response.
Check your reports again afterward and keep the results notices.

A dispute and an identity-theft block are different processes.
Tool	What it does	Best used for
Fraud alert	Asks lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. Free, and your file stays accessible.	An early precaution while you work out what happened.
Security freeze	Restricts access to your credit file, so most new accounts cannot be opened until you lift it.	Preventing new accounts from being opened in your name.
Dispute	Asks the bureau to reinvestigate information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.	Any item you believe is wrong, whether or not identity theft is involved.
Identity-theft block	Asks the bureau to block information that resulted from identity theft, based on an identity theft report and proof of identity.	Accounts and debts that exist only because someone used your identity.

See the FTC credit freezes and fraud alerts page and IdentityTheft.gov below for the official descriptions.

When might it make sense to talk with an FCRA attorney?

These are examples worth discussing; you do not have to wait for another dispute to ask about your rights:

You sent an identity theft report and block request and the information is still reported
Information that was blocked or deleted appeared on your file again
A company kept reporting a debt after being told it resulted from identity theft
The reporting was used in a decision that affected you, such as a denial

Credit Hound is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. No one can promise that a case will be accepted or that any particular result will follow.

How it works

Three steps. No report upload.

Step 1

Use this page to see what to gather.

The records, notices, and identifying details that matter for your situation are listed below.

Step 2

Answer questions about your situation.

A few plain-language questions. No credit pull and no report upload.

Step 3

Get a plain-English summary of your rights.

Along with free official and self-help options you can use yourself - and, only with your explicit consent and where appropriate, review by an independent attorney.

What to look for

Plain-English examples, not legal conclusions.

A credit card or loan you have no record of applying for
A hard inquiry from a lender you did not contact
A collection for a debt you were never billed for
An address or employer you have never used

Informational only. Not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed.

What this check does

No report upload required

You answer questions about your situation. You keep your own documents.

No credit pull

Using this check does not pull your credit and does not affect your score.

Attorney sharing only with consent

Your information goes to an independent law firm only if you explicitly agree.

Primary sources and official help

These free government resources describe the steps above. They are provided for reference and do not endorse CreditHound.

IdentityTheft.gov
The federal site for reporting identity theft and getting an identity theft report.
IdentityTheft.gov: Recovery steps
Step-by-step recovery, including asking bureaus to block information from identity theft.
FTC: Credit freezes and fraud alerts
What a fraud alert and a security freeze each do, and how to place them.
FTC: Disputing errors on your credit reports
What to include in a written dispute and what happens after you send it.
CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
Official guidance on disputing with the credit reporting company and the furnisher.
AnnualCreditReport.com
The official site for your free credit reports from the nationwide credit bureaus.

Common questions

Good to know.

Start with a few questions. Free.

Answer questions about your situation and get a plain-English summary of your rights, along with the free steps available to you.