Recovering From Identity Theft
If you have been the victim of identity theft, there are a number of steps you can take to help recover.
Step 1
Contact the IRS
If a fraudulent state return has been filed, it is likely one has been filed at the federal level, too.
Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialist Unit at 1 (800) 908-4490, or complete the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039.
Follow the directions on the back of the form to submit the form to the IRS.
Step 2
File a Police Report
File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
Step 3
Check your credit report for fraudulent charges
The law requires that major nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – give you a free copy of your credit report each year.
Visit AnnualCreditReport.Com
Step 4
Place a Fraud Alert
You can place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus:
- Equifax
- 1 (800) 525-6285
- Experian
- 1 (888) 397-3742
- TranUnion
- 1 (800) 680-7289
Step 5
Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Online
- FTC.gov/IDTheft
- Phone
- 1 (877) ID-THEFT (1 (877) 438-4338)
For more information, see the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft webpage at IdentityTheft.gov.
Step 6
Contact your financial institutions
Reach out to your bank and other financial institutions such as credit card companies.
Ask if any of your accounts have been tampered with. For example, check to see if your address was changed or if new accounts have been created in your name.