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What to do if…
you discover someone has used your identity to apply for credit or open accounts

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Stop more damage first: freeze your credit files, create an IdentityTheft.gov report, and contact the lender’s fraud department using a number you find yourself.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t pay a bill or collection notice for an account you did not open just to reduce stress; paying may make the record harder to sort out.
  • Don’t give extra personal information to an inbound caller who claims to be from the fraud department; hang up and call back using a trusted number.
  • Don’t click links in urgent messages about your credit application; go to official sites by typing the address yourself.
  • Don’t apply for new credit to test whether it works; that can add more activity to your credit file.
  • Don’t throw away letters, envelopes, emails, or texts; keep them together.

What to do now

  1. Write down exactly what you know.
    Note the lender name, the date you learned about it, and any reference, application, or account numbers. Save screenshots and keep envelopes or letters.

  2. Place a credit freeze with all three nationwide credit bureaus.
    A freeze is the best immediate general block for new credit checks, because it restricts access to your credit file and makes it much harder for someone to open new credit in your name. Place it separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If you cannot do all three right now, place a fraud alert as a stopgap.

  3. Use a fraud alert if you need a faster first barrier.
    For a fraud alert, you can contact any one of the three bureaus, and that bureau must notify the other two. Freezes are different: you need to contact all three bureaus separately.

  4. Create an Identity Theft Report.
    File at IdentityTheft.gov and save the report or confirmation. This gives you a reusable record for lenders, credit bureaus, and debt collectors.

  5. Call the lender named in the application or account.
    Ask for the fraud department. Say: “I did not apply for this credit. This is identity theft.” Ask them to:

    • stop or close the application or account
    • confirm in writing what they did
    • tell you exactly what documents they need from you
    • give you a case number
    • give you a secure way to send documents

  6. Get your credit reports and check all three.
    Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the official source for free credit reports. Look for new accounts, hard inquiries, wrong addresses, unfamiliar phone numbers, and employers you do not recognize.

  7. Dispute fraudulent accounts and inquiries in writing.
    Dispute with the lender or business that reported the item and with any credit bureau showing it. Include your Identity Theft Report if you have it, proof of your identity if requested, and a clear list of the fraudulent items. Keep copies of what you send.

  8. If a debt collector contacts you, move slowly and use the written verification process.
    Ask for validation information in writing. If you receive validation information and do not recognize the debt, send a written dispute within 30 days and ask for verification. Keep copies; many people use certified mail with return receipt.

  9. Replace an ID document only if it is missing or stolen.
    If your driver’s license, state ID, or other document was lost or stolen, use your state’s official replacement process. If the document is still with you but the details were copied, focus first on freezes, alerts, the IdentityTheft.gov report, lender contact, and credit report disputes.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to buy identity monitoring.
  • You do not need a perfect timeline before you freeze your credit, make the report, and contact the lender.
  • You do not need to argue with a collector on the phone; you can move the process to writing.
  • You do not need to replace every document unless it is missing, stolen, or an official agency tells you to replace it.

Important reassurance

This is upsetting, but it is a known problem with established steps. Freezing, reporting, contacting the lender, disputing, and keeping records will give you more control than rushed calls or payments.

Scope note

These are first steps to stop new damage and start the record trail. Later decisions may need help from the lender, credit bureaus, a consumer-law attorney, your state attorney general, or another specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, credit, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Processes can vary by company and state, so use official websites and trusted contact details before sharing personal information.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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