Released: January 23, 2019

Help Desk FAQ

What is identity theft and how can I protect myself?

Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter steals someone's personal data (name, Social Security number, etc.) and uses it to profit illegally, commit fraud or commit some other crime under the stolen identity.

Use these resources to learn more about how identity theft happens, how to prevent it and what to do if you are a victim.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ID Theft webpage
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
• IdentityTheft.gov
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service
• Consumer Action's "ID Theft & Account Fraud: Prevention and cleanup" (in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean)
• Consumer Action's "Freeze Your Credit File" (in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean)

Credit reporting bureaus

Victims often can often: prevent identity theft by freezing their credit reports or placing a fraud alert; detect identity theft by checking their credit reports regularly; and repair the damage resulting from identity theft by notifying creditors and the credit bureaus.

• Equifax: 888-685-1111 / Equifax website
• Experian: 888-397-3742 / Experian website
• TransUnion: 888-909-8872 / TransUnion website

AnnualCreditReport.com (877-322-8228) is the official site for free annual credit reports required under federal law (one from each bureau per 12 months).