Emergency guide
Someone is using my identity
When someone uses your name, new accounts, debts, benefit claims or tax returns can appear before you know it. This page lists what to do today, the dates that may be running, who to call and words you can use.
General information, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live. If you have a letter, notice or form with a date on it, get advice before that date passes.
Checked 9 October 2026 · re-check due 9 April 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If you are in danger now, or someone is threatening you, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. If this has you thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour. If the person using your name is someone you live with or are close to, and you are afraid of them, talk to a domestic abuse helpline today, before you change passwords, freeze your credit or report it, because these steps can alert them: in the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-7233; in the UK, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (England), at any hour, or your nation's helpline under Who to call. If there is no food in the house tonight because your money was taken, call 211 in the US; in the UK, a food bank needs a voucher first: Trussell, below, says how to get one.
Today
- If money has left your account, or a card was used, call your bank or card company now, on the number on your card or in your real banking app. Never move money to a 'safe account' because a caller says to.
- If court papers have arrived about a debt you did not take out, this comes first: answer by the date on the papers, and call a free adviser from Who to call the same day. Answering does not mean you agree you owe it. See the debt guide.
- If a debt collector writes about a debt you do not recognise, write back before the end date printed on its first notice: say it is identity theft and ask for the details before you pay anything. See the debt guide.
- Make it harder for anyone to open credit in your name. US: freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, each separately; it is free and you can lift it later.
- UK: ask each credit reference agency to add a free notice of correction password; lenders then ask for it, including when you apply.
- US: report it at IdentityTheft.gov, or to the FTC on 1-877-438-4338, for a free recovery plan and an identity theft report (a record you can send to credit bureaus and companies).
- US: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also says to report it to your local police.
- UK: report it to Report Fraud in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland, and ask for a crime reference number.
- UK: if a benefit was claimed in your name, also tell the benefit office whose letter you got.
- Check your credit reports for accounts you do not recognise. US: AnnualCreditReport.com is the one free site, every week. UK: ask Experian, Equifax and TransUnion for your free statutory report. You do not need a paid service or a free trial.
- Tell each bank, lender or company about an account you did not open, in writing, and say it is identity theft. Ask them to close it and take it off your credit file. US: send your identity theft report and ask for the application.
- Change your passwords, starting with your email, then your bank and other main accounts. Turn on two-step sign-in where you can.
- US tax: if the IRS writes about a return you did not file, do what the letter says.
- US tax: if your e-filed return is rejected because one was already filed with your number, check you typed it correctly, then file on paper with Form 14039 attached. After that, get an IP PIN: a six-digit number from the IRS that stops anyone else filing with your number. The fastest way is your online account at IRS.gov.
- US benefits: if a state sends a letter, a payment card or a 1099-G tax form for unemployment benefits you never claimed, tell that state's unemployment agency. Put only the income you really received on your tax return.
- UK: if someone got into your HMRC online account or changed your tax records, report it to HMRC at once, from the security console in your account or, if you cannot sign in, GOV.UK's online form. Change your password if you still can.
- Keep every letter and email in one folder, and write down each call: the date, who you spoke to and the reference number.
- Tell one person you trust what has happened.
The clocks that have started
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one. The details of each are on the page online; its address is at the bottom.
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Tap one to see when it starts and what happens if you miss it. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one.
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
Answer a debt lawsuit by the date written on the court papersYour papers give either a date, or a number of days counted from the day you got them: count from the earliest day they could have reached you.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Your papers give either a date, or a number of days counted from the day you got them: count from the earliest day they could have reached you. If they give a court date, go to court that day, even if you have already sent an answer. Your state and your court decide; no federal rule gives one number. If you cannot tell what the papers ask, call legal aid or the court clerk today. Find the court's phone number on the court's own website, not only on the papers. If the court has no record of the case yet, do not treat the papers as fake: in some states a lawsuit starts when you are served, before it is filed. Answer by the date anyway, and ask legal aid. Do not wait to see whether the lawsuit is real.
- Starts
- the day court papers reach you: a summons or complaint from a court, however it arrives. Count from the earliest day it could have reached you, not the day you opened it. Refusing to accept the papers does not stop the clock: CFPB says a court could treat that as ignoring a properly served lawsuit. A letter or call from a collector alone is not a lawsuit.
- If missed
- the court can enter a default judgment: CFPB says it is likely to be for the amount the collector claims, plus lawful fees, costs and interest. A judgment can let the collector take money from your pay, put a lien on your property or move to freeze money in your bank account, depending on your state's laws. It is very difficult to change once it is made, and you may lose the chance to dispute the debt or show it is wrong. If the date has passed, call a legal aid office or a lawyer the same day.
- It lets you
- respond by the date and in the way your papers say, in writing or by going to court, on your own or through a lawyer, even if you are not sure you owe the debt. Responding does not mean you agree you owe it: the collector then has to prove to the court that the debt is valid. You may also be able to work out a settlement before the court decides.
If court papers arrive about a debt you did not take out, this date comes before everything else on this page: answer by the date on the papers, and call legal aid the same day. Answering does not mean you agree you owe it. Do not wait to finish your identity theft report first. The old-debt card this card mentions is on the guide 'A debt collector is chasing me, or I got court papers about a debt'.
Where this differs: Courts, forms and answer dates differ by state, and can differ by county: the papers and the court clerk are the source, not this page. LawHelp.org points you to free legal help in your state. If the debt is too old to sue on, the person sued usually has to say so to the court: see the old-debt clock. If you are in the military, CFPB points you to your base legal assistance office.
Checked 10 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Freeze your credit at all three credit bureaus, and add a fraud alertFreeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion today: each one is a separate request, and each is free.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion today: each one is a separate request, and each is free. By phone or online, a bureau must place the freeze within 1 business day of your request (within 3 business days by mail) and lift it within 1 hour of your request (within 3 business days by mail). A freeze lasts until you lift it. For a fraud alert, contact one bureau: it lasts 1 year and you can renew it, and that bureau must tell the other two.
- Starts
- today. There is no date to wait for: anyone can freeze their credit at any time, whether or not their identity has been misused. Do it as soon as you suspect misuse.
- If missed
- No date can be missed, but until the freeze is in place anyone who has your details can try to open new credit in your name. A freeze does not stop someone misusing an account you already have: call that company about it (see the bank and card cards on this page).
- It lets you
- stop anyone opening new credit in your name while the freeze is in place. A fraud alert makes lenders check it is really you before they open an account, and an initial alert also gets you a free copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus. When you need to apply for credit, a job, a rental or insurance, lift the freeze for a while and put it back afterwards. The FTC suggests asking which bureau the lender will use and lifting the freeze at that bureau only.
Where this differs: A freeze at one bureau does not reach the other two: ask each. Credit 'locks' are sold for a fee and are no more effective than a free freeze, the CFPB says. A freeze does not stop an employer, landlord or insurer from seeing your report. Parents can freeze the file of a child under 16: each bureau gives its own steps. Active duty servicemembers can ask for an active duty alert. IdentityTheft.gov lists the numbers: Equifax 800-685-1111, Experian 888-397-3742, TransUnion 888-909-8872.
Checked 10 October 2026 at US Federal Trade Commission
Tell your bank or payment app about money taken from your account (the federal rule called Regulation E)2 business days from finding out, to keep your loss to $50 at most if your card, PIN or login was used.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- 2 business days from finding out, to keep your loss to $50 at most if your card, PIN or login was used. In any case, 60 days. You can tell the bank by phone, in person or in writing; a letter must reach it within the 60 days. If you phone, ask whether the bank needs it in writing. If it does, send it within 10 business days, or the bank does not have to put the money back in your account while it looks into it
- Starts
- the day you learn your card was lost or stolen, or that a scammer got your card number, PIN, login or a security code from you, or the day you first see a transfer you did not make, whichever is earliest. The law counts the 60 days from the day the bank sent the statement that first shows the transfer; count from the day of the transfer to be safe
- If missed
- you may be held responsible for more of the money. The bank must give you more time if something like a stay in hospital or long travel caused the delay, so tell it what happened and ask anyway
- It lets you
- have the bank or app investigate and treat the transfer as unauthorized. If a scammer tricked you into giving them a code, login or card number and then moved the money, the CFPB says that counts as unauthorized, and the bank cannot refuse because you shared it. Tell the bank within 2 business days and your loss cannot be more than $50; after that it can be up to $500. If you wait past the 60 days, you may not be protected for transfers made after that
For a debit card or bank account that someone else used or got into. The 2 business days start the day you find out, so call the bank today. Money taken by someone who has your card number, PIN or login counts, even if you still have the card.
Where this differs: This covers bank and credit union accounts, debit cards and payment-app balances such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal. If you pressed send yourself because you were tricked, the rule may not cover it, because it is about transfers someone else started. Do not decide that yourself: tell the bank in writing what happened, within the same 60 days, and ask it to investigate. Credit cards follow a different rule: see the next clock. Your state or your account agreement may give you more protection, never less
Checked 9 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.6)
Dispute a credit card charge in writing (the federal rule called the Fair Credit Billing Act)60 days: your letter must reach the card company within 60 days.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- 60 days: your letter must reach the card company within 60 days. Call the number on the back of your card today as well, and send the letter. The company must acknowledge your letter in writing within 30 days and settle the dispute within 90 days
- Starts
- the day the first bill that shows the charge was sent to you, not the day you opened it. You may not know that date, so count from the day of the charge to be safe
- If missed
- you may lose this law's protection for that charge. Ask the card company for a refund anyway, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- It lets you
- dispute a charge you did not authorize, or a charge for something that was not delivered as agreed. While it is investigated you can hold back the disputed amount and the charges on it. Federal law limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges to $50. If a scammer tricked you into paying, say exactly what happened, including anything you paid for and did not get as agreed, and ask for a refund. Send the letter in time even if you are not sure it counts: the card company decides, not you
For a charge on a card account that is yours. If a card account was opened in your name without your knowledge, tell the card company's fraud team it is identity theft and ask it to close the account, and use the credit bureau cards on this page as well.
Where this differs: This covers credit cards and other revolving credit. It does not cover debit cards (see the Regulation E clock), personal loans or car loans. Write to the address for billing inquiries, not the address for payments. Sending it by certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of what the company got; send copies, not originals
Checked 9 October 2026 at US Federal Trade Commission
Ask each credit bureau to remove the accounts you did not openSend each of the three bureaus your identity theft report, proof of who you are, the items that are not yours and a statement that they do not relate to anything you did: a bureau must block the items within 4 business days of getting all four.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- Send each of the three bureaus your identity theft report, proof of who you are, the items that are not yours and a statement that they do not relate to anything you did: a bureau must block the items within 4 business days of getting all four. In the same letter, ask for an extended fraud alert, which lasts 7 years. If you cannot send a report yet, you can still dispute an item in writing: the bureau must reinvestigate within 30 days, or in up to 45 days if you send it more information during the first 30.
- Starts
- the day you finish your report at IdentityTheft.gov. A bureau's own count starts only when it has all four things: proof of who you are, a copy of your identity theft report, the items you say are not yours, and your statement that they do not relate to anything you did. Send all four together so the count starts on the first day.
- If missed
- If a bureau does not block the items in time, or refuses, write to it again, dispute the items in writing, and complain to the CFPB, which takes credit reporting complaints. A bureau may decline a block, or take one off later, if it decides the block was a mistake, was asked for on a false statement, or you got goods, services or money from the blocked transaction. It must tell you if it does.
- It lets you
- have accounts and debts that came from identity theft taken off your credit report (the law calls this blocking). The bureau must tell the company that reported them that someone stole your identity, and once that company is told, it cannot turn the debt over to a debt collector. IdentityTheft.gov has a sample letter.
Where this differs: A block is only for items that came from identity theft: for an error that is not identity theft, use the dispute route. Tell the truth in your report: IdentityTheft.gov says it is illegal to knowingly file a false identity theft report. Send your papers to each bureau, not only one.
Checked 10 October 2026 at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Reply to an IRS notice by the date printed on itThe reply date printed on the notice.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- the reply date printed on the notice. Each type of notice sets its own, so this page gives no number.
- Starts
- the date on the notice. Each IRS notice prints the date to reply by: use that date, not a date from this page. A notice that proposes a change to your tax, such as a CP2000, is not a bill.
- If missed
- If you do not reply, or you and the IRS do not agree, the IRS may send another notice and a bill. For a CP2000, the next step can be a Notice of Deficiency sent by certified mail, which has its own firmer date (the next card). Interest keeps building on what you owe until it is paid.
- It lets you
- agree, disagree, or ask for more time. To disagree, say so on the response form and send your explanation and any documents. To ask for more time, send an extension request with your reply, or call the toll-free number on the notice, before the reply date. If you owe money, pay what you can by the date: the IRS says this can reduce interest and penalties. If you cannot pay in full, see the payment card below.
Three cases. (1) A letter about a return you did not file, such as Letter 5071C, 4883C or 5747C: do what the letter says (use the IRS online tool, call, or visit an office, as it tells you) and do not send Form 14039. (2) Your e-filed return was rejected because a return was already filed with your number: file on paper and attach Form 14039 to the back. Send it once: if you already filed it, including through IdentityTheft.gov, do not send another, because the IRS says duplicate forms or calls to chase your case cause delays. A paper return with Form 14039 can take many months to resolve: if you cannot wait, see the Taxpayer Advocate below. (3) A CP2000 about income that is not yours: answer it with Form 14039, as this card says. In every case: keep filing and paying as usual. Get an IP PIN, a six-digit number from the IRS that stops anyone else filing with your number; the fastest way is your online account at IRS.gov. If a W-2 or 1099 comes from an employer you never worked for, do not put that income on your return: contact Social Security. If a Notice of Deficiency comes, go that day to the guide 'I got a tax bill or letter I can't pay or don't understand': the Notice of Deficiency and payment cards this card mentions are there.
Where this differs: A Notice of Deficiency (the '90-day letter') cannot be extended, and neither can the date on a Final Notice of Intent to Levy: see those cards. If the notice shows income that is not yours because someone used your name and Social Security number, send your reply with Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, as the notice says. A state tax letter is not covered here: your state decides, and the letter gives its date.
Checked 10 October 2026 at Internal Revenue Service
Report an unemployment claim made in your name to the state where it was madeReport it today to the unemployment agency of the state where the claim was made.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Report it today to the unemployment agency of the state where the claim was made. Your state decides its own steps and how long they take, and no federal rule gives one number: the Department of Labor's page lists each state's phone number and online form. A state may not confirm at once, and some ask for a police report or a sworn statement. When you file your income taxes, include only the income you really received: do not wait for a corrected 1099-G or for the state to finish.
- Starts
- the day a letter, a payment card or a request to verify your identity arrives for an unemployment claim you did not make, or a 1099-G tax form shows unemployment benefits you did not get. The mail can come from any state, even one where you never lived or worked. Also count from the day your own payments stop or go somewhere else without your say-so.
- If missed
- The Department of Labor gives no date for the report. The corrected 1099-G comes from the state after you report, and the Department says not to wait for it before filing your taxes. If you already filed your taxes with the wrong income, do not file an amended return: the IRS will give more guidance on the next steps.
- It lets you
- get the claim looked into, and get a corrected 1099-G: the Department of Labor says the state will issue one and update the tax record with the IRS for you. It also says to report it at IdentityTheft.gov if your credit report shows accounts you do not recognise, and to consider freezing your credit.
Where this differs: Each state has different requirements. Report identity fraud that happened after March 2020 to the Justice Department's National Center for Disaster Fraud as well: the Department of Labor says you must still report it to the state. Some states call this 'imposter fraud' or 'identity theft' on their sites.
Checked 10 October 2026 at US Department of Labor
In the United Kingdom
Reply to a county court money claim in England and Wales by the date on the papers14 days to reply, counted from the day the claim counts as delivered to you (see Starts), for a paper claim that came with the particulars of claim (the sheet that says what you are said to owe and why).England and Wales
- How long
- 14 days to reply, counted from the day the claim counts as delivered to you (see Starts), for a paper claim that came with the particulars of claim (the sheet that says what you are said to owe and why). GOV.UK also says to respond by the date on the email or letter you receive, and to follow the instructions in it. You can send an acknowledgement of service (form N9) within the 14 days if you need longer to prepare a defence: that gives 28 days from service of the particulars of claim. GOV.UK says you can also ask for another 14 days if you are not paying the full amount.
- Starts
- the day the claim form counts as served on you. By post, that is the second business day after it was posted (see the postmark). If it was delivered to your address, the second business day after delivery. To be safe, count from the day it was posted or delivered, whichever is earlier. If the claim came by email or online, the date on the email or letter comes first.
- If missed
- a judgment (a county court judgment, CCJ) may be entered against you, with extra costs and interest. A CCJ stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for 6 years unless you pay in full within one month: see the CCJ clock. If you miss the date, still reply: Citizens Advice says a response that arrives before the court grants a default judgment is still considered. If you first learned of the claim from a judgment, or you do not owe the money, you can ask the court to cancel it (set it aside): that needs an application, a fee and a private hearing, so get advice first.
- It lets you
- pay the amount, admit all or part and ask for time to pay by instalments, or dispute the claim, and you can make a counterclaim if you think they owe you money. Court staff can help you fill in the forms but cannot give legal advice. Citizens Advice says to reply as early as possible and, if you disagree you owe the debt, to say so when you reply.
If a county court claim arrives about a debt you did not take out, this date comes first: reply by it, and say in your reply that you do not owe the money. This card is for England and Wales. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the papers give their own date: see the guide 'A debt collector is chasing me, or I got court papers about a debt'. The CCJ card this card mentions is on that guide too.
Where this differs: England and Wales only. For a claim made online with 'MC' in its number, the time counts from the day the claim was issued, not the day you got it, and the reply is due by 4pm on the date in the email: do not leave it to the evening. For help with the forms, call Civil Money Claims on 0300 123 7050 ('MC' claims) or the Civil National Business Centre on 0300 123 1056 (other claims), Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm: staff explain the steps but cannot give legal advice. If the claim form says 'particulars of claim to follow', wait for them, which should come soon after; the 14 days count from when they are served, so keep the claim form and get advice now. Claims under a Consumer Credit Act agreement have their own guidance (N1(FD)): it also gives 14 days from service. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different courts and dates: see their clocks.
Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (HM Courts and Tribunals Service)
Tell your bank about a payment you did not make or agree toTell your bank as soon as you can, and in any event within 13 months of the day the money left your account.Whole UK
- How long
- Tell your bank as soon as you can, and in any event within 13 months of the day the money left your account. In practice, contact your bank the day you notice
- Starts
- the day the money left your account (the debit date). If several payments left your account, count from the earliest
- If missed
- after 13 months you can lose your right to a refund under these rules. If your bank did not give you the information about the payment that the rules require, the 13 months does not apply: ask Citizens Advice before you give up
- It lets you
- ask for a refund of a payment from your account that you do not recognise, or when more was taken from your debit card than you expected. Explain what happened and ask if you can get a refund. If you are not happy with how the bank deals with your claim, you can complain to it
For money taken from your own account or card by someone else. Call your bank the day you notice: the 13 months is the outer limit, not a time to wait for. If the bank refuses, complain to it, then take it to the Financial Ombudsman (door below): the bank's final response letter should say how long you have, so keep it. The bank transfer and Ombudsman cards this card mentions are on the guide 'I paid a scammer, or think I've been scammed'. A new account or loan opened in your name is a different problem: tell that lender, and use the credit file card on this page.
Where this differs: This is for a payment you did not make or agree to, for example someone used your card or login. If you made the payment yourself while being tricked, use the bank transfer clock. If your bank refuses or does not answer, see the Financial Ombudsman clock
Checked 9 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Payment Services Regulations 2017, regulation 74)
Ask each credit reference agency to remove or correct an entry that is not yoursWrite to each of the three agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) as soon as you have your file: the agency then has 28 days to tell you in writing that it has removed the entry, amended it, or taken no action.Whole UK
- How long
- Write to each of the three agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) as soon as you have your file: the agency then has 28 days to tell you in writing that it has removed the entry, amended it, or taken no action. If it removes the entry, check your file again later. If it amends the entry in a way that is still wrong, takes no action, or sends nothing, you have 28 days to ask in writing for a notice of correction of up to 200 words. Those 28 days run from the agency's reply, or, if it sends none, from the end of its own 28 days. Count from the date on the agency's reply, not the day it reaches you.
- Starts
- the day the agency receives your written notice. You need a copy of your credit file first: ask each of the three agencies for yours, and read it for accounts you did not open. Your notice must say that an entry in your file is incorrect and that you are likely to be prejudiced (harmed) if it is not corrected.
- If missed
- After the second 28 days you may lose the right to ask for a notice of correction on that entry. You can still write to the agency again about the entry and tell the lender it was identity theft: ask Citizens Advice before you give up.
- It lets you
- have the entry removed or corrected, or have your own short statement added to your file and shown whenever the entry is. The agency tells the lender, which investigates: Stop! Think Fraud says this can take several weeks, so the sooner you report it the sooner your records are updated. If the agency will not add your notice, you can apply to the Information Commission for an order: the Act says a fee is payable.
Each agency can also add a free password to your file, called a notice of correction password: Stop! Think Fraud says a lender must ask for it before lending in your name. You do not need a paid service for any step on this card.
Where this differs: The Consumer Credit Act 1974 section 159 is marked as applying across the UK on legislation.gov.uk. It covers entries that are wrong: it is not a way to hide true information. Your statutory credit report is free from each agency, anywhere in the UK: Citizens Advice says an agency must give it to you for free if you ask, and Stop! Think Fraud says a credit check is free. If you do not recognise an entry, Citizens Advice says to tell the agency which accounts you did not apply for and ask for them to be removed: the agency then contacts the companies listed.
Checked 10 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 159)
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
after you have called your bank: report identity theft for free and get a personal recovery plan, an identity theft report, sample letters and the credit bureaus' contact details. The FTC will never tell you to move money to protect it: anyone who does is a scammer
identitytheft.gov · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your name and a telephone number: without them the site cannot take your identity theft report
They may ask
- questions about your situation, so it can build your plan: tell it as much as you can
They can
- give you a personal recovery plan with the steps to take
- if you make an account, walk you through each step, track your progress, and fill in forms and letters for you
- give you sample letters and contact details for the credit bureaus
- work in many languages, listed on the site
They cannot
- resolve your individual report: the FTC does not resolve individual consumer reports
- keep your report from the person or company you report: the FTC says it may share what you give with them, so give only what you are comfortable with
The site ends your session after five minutes of no activity. With an account you can log in and continue your recovery plan
National Domestic Violence Hotline
if the person using your name is someone you live with or are close to and you are afraid of them: support and help planning for your safety, at any hour
Call 1-800-799-7233 · Text START to 88788 · 24/7
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- put you through to a live advocate by phone (1-800-799-7233), chat, or text START to 88788; message and data rates may apply
- give support, crisis intervention, education about domestic violence, and community resources and referrals
- point you to local providers, including shelters and legal help, and to other lines: StrongHearts for Native Americans and Alaska Natives (844.762.8483) and a video phone line for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (855.812.1001)
They cannot
- give direct financial help such as cash support, hotel vouchers or transportation vouchers: the Hotline says it can connect you with community resources that may support these needs
Identity Theft Resource Center
free one-to-one help from an adviser by phone, text or chat, if you are stuck on the next step. It sells nothing on its help page. It is funded partly by the US Justice Department and largely by company sponsors, some in the identity-protection and credit business. The steps in this guide cost nothing
Call 888-400-5530 · Text 888-400-5530 · 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time (its normal business hours; days not stated)
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you have them: an FTC or police identity theft report, a copy of your credit report that shows the accounts opened in your name, and any data breach notice
They can
- give you one-on-one help from an advisor by phone or text on 888-400-5530, or by chat on the website, during its normal business hours (6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time; days not stated)
- give direct help, a custom plan to fix the damage, and resources, free of charge
They cannot
- fix your accounts for you: an advisor walks you through the steps, and you contact the companies yourself
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (complaints)
if a credit bureau, lender or collector will not fix it: file a complaint online or by phone and the CFPB sends it to the company for a response. It does not take the identity theft report itself
Call (855) 411-2372 · 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays)
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your name, email, phone number and address: the site needs them to make your account, and without an address the company cannot respond
- the key facts in your own words, with only the most important dates, amounts and messages with the company
- documents that back up the facts, such as account statements and messages with the company, up to 50 pages
They may ask
- which company you are complaining about: pick it from the list, or give its contact details
They can
- send your complaint to the company and ask for a response, which the site says is generally within 15 days and sometimes up to 60 days
- take your complaint by phone on (855) 411-2372, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday except federal holidays, if you cannot use the online form
They cannot
- take a second complaint about the same problem, so put everything in the first one
- delete your personal information after you submit: it is kept under federal records rules, currently for 25 years
- report the scam itself: for that the CFPB says to contact your local police or sheriff, your state attorney general and the FTC
Online takes under 10 minutes; by phone it takes 25 to 30 minutes
Social Security Administration
if you think someone is using your Social Security number to work: check your earnings record in your my Social Security account for wages you did not earn, and tell Social Security about any error. It does not handle the identity theft itself: report that at IdentityTheft.gov
Call 1-800-772-1213 · 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday; automated phone services 24 hours a day
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your Social Security number, and the letter or notice you are calling about, with the date on it
- if someone died: their name, Social Security number, date of birth and date of death; if you do not have the number, Social Security will ask for other details such as their date of birth and their parents' names
- if you are applying for survivors benefits: your own Social Security number, where you were born, the date and place of your marriage (and any earlier marriages), your bank routing and account number for direct deposit, and your children's names
They may ask
- what you are calling about: for example, that you want to submit a request for reconsideration of a decision, or to apply for survivors benefits or the one-time death payment
They can
- help you submit a written request for reconsideration (form SSA-561) when you call: tell the representative that is what you want. The request itself has to be in writing
- take a request to waive an overpayment, or to pay it back at a lower rate; for an SSI overpayment of $2,000 or less that you think was not your fault, the waiver request can be made by phone
- take a report of a death, if no funeral home reported it, and take your request for survivors benefits or the one-time death payment
- help you through a free interpreter
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; automated phone services run 24 hours
- keep disability payments going on a phone call alone: when a notice says your disability has ended, the request to continue payments has to be in writing
Waits are usually shorter in the morning, later in the week and later in the month. If you are appealing a decision and its deadline is close, do not wait on hold: send or upload your written request for reconsideration (form SSA-561) the same day.
if your tax return was rejected because someone already filed with your number, or someone is using your number to work. If you have an IRS letter, use the number on the letter first. This line cannot give refund status
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- any letter, notice or fax the IRS sent you: follow its instructions first
They can
- verify your identity and your tax return status
They cannot
- give your refund status or other tax information: for tax account answers, call 1-800-829-1040
Taxpayer Advocate Service (IRS)
if the IRS has not fixed a tax problem that identity theft caused, or it is putting your home, food or bills at risk: a free office inside the IRS. A reply can take up to two weeks
Call 1-877-777-4778 · Call for current hours; a return call can take up to two weeks
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the IRS notice or letter, and what you have already tried with the IRS
They may ask
- whether the problem is causing you financial hardship, for example losing your home, food, utilities or transport to work
They can
- open a case and give you an advocate, for free
- help when the IRS has not resolved your problem or has missed a date it gave you
They cannot
- answer quickly at busy times: they say it may take up to two weeks to return your call
- extend the date to petition the Tax Court
if court papers or a judgment arrive about a debt you did not take out, or a collector will not stop: free legal help in your state
lawhelp.org · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state or territory where you live: the site starts by asking you to choose it
They can
- send you to legal aid and other low-cost legal help near you
- give you legal help guides, including one on court fees and getting them paid
- help you create legal documents for free in areas such as housing, with LawHelp Interactive
They cannot
- give legal advice or take your case itself: it sends you to legal aid and other help in your state
if your money was taken and there is no food, or rent or bills are due: say what happened
Call 211 · 24/7 in most areas
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- a few facts about your current living situation
- any income you have
- the children or other dependents who live with you
They may ask
- about your current living situation
- about any income you have
- about any children or other dependents who live with you
They can
- connect you to local help with rent, mortgage, utilities, food and health care
- talk to you by phone; some local 211s also offer text and web chat, so check yours
- use 180 languages on request
- give you other ideas if you do not qualify for one program: you can call again
They cannot
- give you money themselves: 211 is the number for information and referrals to services
- help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first if you or someone you love is in one or may be a danger to someone else
In the United Kingdom
report identity fraud to the police if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland: online at any time, or by phone on 0300 123 2040. Ask for a crime reference number. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101 instead
Call 0300 123 2040 · Phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (reduced availability 8pm to 8am). Webchat 8am to 8pm, every day.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- take your report online at any time, or by phone on 0300 123 2040, available 24 hours a day with less cover from 8pm to 8am
- take reports by textphone on 0300 123 2050 if you are deaf or hard of hearing
- take your report in your own language through a separate service
- let you track your report online if you registered when you made it
They cannot
- take reports from people who live in Scotland: report via Police Scotland on 101
- take reports or supporting documents by post
- be free to call: it costs your standard rate, and from a mobile with no minutes left about 35p a minute, so report online if a call would cost you
- ask you for your bank details: the site says Report Fraud will never request them. If a caller who says they are Report Fraud makes you unsure, hang up and call 0300 123 2040 yourself
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)
if the person using your name is someone you live with or are close to and you are afraid of them: free, 24 hours a day (England)
Call 0808 2000 247 · 24 hours a day
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you think someone might be monitoring your devices, the site says to leave it and visit from a safe device
They can
- talk with you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 0808 2000 247, free, or through live chat
- talk about domestic abuse, safety planning, advice and support, in many different languages
- help you find a refuge place or other specialist services
- offer a British Sign Language service, 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday
They cannot
- help you directly to get a non-molestation order: the site says it offers signposting, and points to Rights of Women for advice and support on that
- replace 999: if you are in an emergency, call 999
if you are a man, or trans or non-binary, and the person using your name is someone close to you and you are afraid of them: phone Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, free
Call 0808 8010327 · Phone Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Webchat Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- nothing is needed: you do not have to give your name, date of birth or address, or prove anything
They may ask
- a few questions about your situation and your level of risk, so they can help with a safety plan. You can say you are not ready to answer.
- at the end, some optional monitoring questions for their funders, such as your age and which local authority you live in. You cannot be identified by your answers.
They can
- listen without judgement and give practical advice and information
- point you to services for legal advice, child contact, counselling and housing
- give you about 30 minutes, and more if you need it
- get you an interpreter by phone, or talk through Relay UK
- move your call to another adviser if you ask for an adviser of a different gender, if one is available
They cannot
- give legal advice: advisers can give legal information and point you to services that give advice
- take a call outside Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, or webchat outside Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am
You might wait in a queue and can stay on the line as long as you like. If you do not want to queue, the site says you can use webchat in its opening hours. On webchat, try to reply within 2 minutes.
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
the same help in Scotland
Call 0800 027 1234 · Text / WhatsApp: 07401288595 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 027 1234; you can also text or use WhatsApp on 07401288595, use online chat or email
- listen and believe you, give information, direct you to agencies that may help, give emotional support and offer crisis intervention in emergencies
- give practical support, including housing support, and information on accommodation and housing options and refuge
- use an interpreting service: you may be asked to hold, or be called back, while an interpreter is arranged; Relay UK and British Sign Language through Contact Scotland BSL are also available
They cannot
- replace 999: the site says if you are in immediate danger, phone 999
the same help in Wales
Call 0808 80 10 800 · Text 07860077333 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give free advice and support, or talk through your options, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone on 0808 80 10 800 (calls are welcomed in Welsh), text on 07860077333, live chat or email
- help anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, and people who know someone who needs help
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland)
the same help in Northern Ireland if you are 18 or over. If you are under 18 and in danger, call 999; otherwise call Childline on 0800 1111
Call 0808 802 1414 · 24/7, 365 days a year
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with trained helpline staff, free, 24/7, 365 days a year, on 0808 802 1414, or by email (help@dsahelpline.org) or live chat
- give you information and guidance that fits your own circumstances
They cannot
- help anyone under 18: the site says the helpline is for anyone aged 18 and over
- replace 999: the site says if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999
Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
free advice if a bank, lender or credit reference agency will not put it right, or a debt letter arrives for an account you did not open (England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own doors below)
Call 0800 144 8848 · Usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Not available on public holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode if you call from a mobile: if you do not have one, say one nearby such as a GP surgery, takeaway shop or taxi company
They may ask
- your postcode, from a mobile, to find your local Citizens Advice
They can
- connect you to your local Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
- talk to you by online chat: Universal Credit claims 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, debt 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 1pm Saturday
- help with a new Universal Credit claim through Help to Claim, free and confidential, from the application to the first payment
- take Relay UK calls (18001 then 0800 144 8848)
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Adviceline is not available then
- cover all of the UK on this number: it is for England, Wales has a separate Advicelink line, and there are a few parts of England not yet covered
- help everywhere: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the start of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Citizens Advice Cymru (Advicelink Wales)
the same advice in Wales
Call 0800 702 2020 · Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- connect you to an adviser through Advicelink (Wales) on 0800 702 2020, free from mobiles and landlines
- talk to you by online chat about any other kind of problem, usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- take Relay UK calls: 18001 then 0800 702 2020
- point you to the Citizens Advice consumer service for problems with energy, water or post
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Advicelink is not available then
- help you in person if you live outside your local office's area: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later.
Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline)
the same advice from a local bureau in Scotland
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode: the page finds your local Citizens Advice Bureau by postcode
They can
- put you through to an adviser at your local bureau by phone on 0800 028 1456, the Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline
- give free, confidential and impartial advice, and help you work out next steps
- raise a complaint with an energy supplier for you through its Extra Help Unit, if you may be considered vulnerable or at risk of disconnection
- give advice online, on its advice pages
free advice on benefits, tax credits and debt in Northern Ireland: ask about a debt for an account you did not open
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give advice on benefits, personal debt and managing bills, through the freephone helpline on 0800 915 4604
- answer by email at advice@adviceni.net
- point you to an Advice NI member near you if you need face-to-face advice
They cannot
- see you in person themselves: for face-to-face advice you contact a local advice centre run by an Advice NI member
if a bank or lender will not put it right after you complain to it, including a loan taken out in your name or a fraud marker it added wrongly: free. The bank's final response letter should say how long you have to bring it here, so keep the letter
Call 0800 023 4567 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the final response letter from the business, which you should keep: the ombudsman will ask to see it
- notes of any calls, emails and letters between you and the business
They may ask
- about your complaint, what has happened and which financial business you are complaining about
They can
- look into your complaint if you have had a final response you are not happy with, or the business has had its time and not replied
- talk to you by phone if you are severely ill or in financial difficulty and need to speak to someone urgently about your complaint
- take calls through Relay UK on (18002) 020 7964 1000
- tell you about other organisations that may help, if it cannot
They cannot
- help if it has already looked at the complaint, if the courts have made a decision about the case, or if it is outside the time limits
- see you in person: its offices are not set up for face-to-face help
The helpline gets busy sometimes, so you may need to wait to speak to someone.
free support after fraud, at any time, whether or not you reported it to the police (England and Wales)
Call 08 08 16 89 111 · 24/7, every day of the year
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- on the online form: how you want help, what brought you to Victim Support (for example fraud, cyber crime or image based sexual abuse), and which country and county you live in
They can
- give free, independent advice by phone on 08 08 16 89 111, by live chat or through an online form, at any time
- call you back from your local area team within three working days if you use the online form
- take Relay UK calls or help in BSL
They cannot
- replace 999: in an emergency, always call 999
- help you if you live in Scotland: Victim Support Scotland is a separate service, and the form on this site is for England and Wales
- keep everything private in every case: it shares information without your consent only if it is worried about your safety or someone else's, or if the law requires it
Victim Support Scotland (helpline)
the same support in Scotland: a free helpline, by phone or chat, 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm at weekends
Call 0800 160 1985 · 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- on the request form: some information about you and your experiences
They can
- give free support by helpline on 0800 160 1985, by live web chat, or through a request form
- give emotional support and explain how the criminal justice system works
- talk through whether to report a crime if you have not, and help you report it if you decide to
- talk to your GP, housing association or other organisations, and refer you to specialists
- possibly help you get funds if you are in urgent need because of a crime and have no other way to get the money
They cannot
- take your call or chat outside 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
the same support in Northern Ireland: free, whether or not you reported it, 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Call the hub nearest you: Belfast on 028 9024 3133, or Foyle on 028 7137 0086 if you live in Antrim and Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast and Glens, Derry and Strabane, Fermanagh and Omagh, Mid and East Antrim or Mid-Ulster
Call 028 9024 3133 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give free emotional and practical support after any type of crime, whether or not you reported it to the police
- help with tasks such as filling in forms for a criminal injury compensation claim
- help arrange counselling if they think you need it: what they do is similar to counselling, but it is not the same
- help relatives and friends too
They cannot
- keep everything confidential in every case: they may pass information on if someone is at risk of harm, if a child may be at risk, or if a judge directs it
Lines can be busy. If you cannot get through, wait on the line until the answer service starts and leave your name and number: a member of staff will call you back as soon as they can. You can also email your nearest hub.
if there is no food in the house: find your nearest food bank. You need a food voucher first, from a local organisation; the page says how to get one
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- how many adults and children the parcel is for, and the ages of any children: volunteers check these from your voucher
- any dietary requirements: say so when you get your voucher so the food bank can prepare
They may ask
- the community organisation that gives you a voucher asks about your individual needs, so it can help you find the right support
They can
- help you find your nearest food bank
- give an emergency food parcel with at least three days of meals once you have a food voucher from a local community organisation
- sometimes provide pet food and essentials such as toiletries and period products, where they can
- sometimes offer extra support, such as debt advice or a trained Citizens Advice adviser
- sometimes deliver food parcels: ask when you get your voucher, or contact the food bank
They cannot
- give you a parcel without a food voucher: you need a referral first
- usually give you a voucher online: you will usually need to contact a community organisation by phone or in person, and in some cases the food bank directly
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
Someone has used my [card / account / details] without my permission. These payments are not mine: [list them]. Please stop the card and secure the account. Please tell me what you need from me, give me a reference number, and confirm in writing that I reported it today.
I am a victim of identity theft. My identity theft report and proof of identity are attached. These items on my credit report do not relate to any transaction I made: [list them]. Please block them, tell the companies that reported them, and confirm in writing when it is done. Please also place an extended fraud alert on my file.
An account in my name, [account number], was opened without my knowledge. I did not open it or agree to it. Please close it, take it off my credit file, and stop collecting on it. Please send me the application and the records of what was bought. I attach my [identity theft report / crime reference number].
I have a copy of my credit file. The entry for [lender and account number] is incorrect: I did not open this account, because someone used my identity. I am likely to be prejudiced if it is not corrected. Please remove the entry, and tell me in writing what you have done.
Not for you if…
This guide is for someone whose name, number or details are being used to open accounts, take loans, claim benefits, file tax returns or get into their accounts. It cannot tell you whether a debt is yours or clear one for you. If you paid someone because you were tricked, see 'I paid a scammer, or think I've been scammed'. If your wallet, phone, passport, driving licence or other papers were lost or stolen, also see 'I lost my wallet, phone or ID, or it was stolen': it covers cancelling a passport and replacing a licence. In the US, if your details were only in a data breach and nothing has been used, a credit freeze is the main step: the library's answer on freezing credit fits better. A child's, a dead person's or a business's identity has its own steps: IdentityTheft.gov and the IRS cover them in the US. In the US, your state's tax agency may have extra steps. You need a lawyer or a free legal adviser, not just this page, if court papers or a judgment arrive; if a bureau, lender or collector will not clear a debt you say is not yours; if someone gave your name to the police, or you are being treated as having committed a crime; if the person who did it is someone you know and you are afraid of them (call a helpline first); or if your right to stay or work depends on your record. In the US, ask legal aid; in the UK, ask Citizens Advice, Advice NI or Citizens Advice Scotland.
A different emergency? Account frozen or closed · Behind on mortgage · Benefits stopped · A car accident · Car repossessed or towed · Bullied at school · Suspended or excluded from school · Help at school · Council tax or rates · Debt collector or court papers · Deposit not returned · Sent home from hospital · Eviction notice · Flood, fire or storm · Health cover ending · Unsafe home · Hurt at work · Paid a scammer · Lost my job · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · No money for food · Nowhere to sleep · Parking or traffic fine · Shutoff notice · Someone died · Stalking, harassment or shared pictures · Someone is missing · Stranded away from home · A tax bill · Told to leave home · Pay being taken · Wages not paid
From the library
How do I freeze my credit, and how do I know if my email was in a breach?
Is this call, text or email a scam — and what if I already paid?
How do I destroy old documents and protect my identity?