How to Report Identity Theft to Credit Bureaus

Collect the paperwork that confirms your identity and proves the fraud so you can present a clear, verifiable case to law enforcement and to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

• Government‑issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Social Security card or a printed statement showing your SSN
• Recent utility bill, bank statement, or lease that lists your current address
• FTC Identity Theft Report (or a copy of the police report once you have one)
• Copies of the fraudulent credit card, loan, or account statements you received
• Any letters or emails from creditors alerting you to unauthorized activity
• Proof of residence such as a mortgage statement or rental agreement

File a police report right away to create an official record that backs up your credit‑bureau dispute.

1. Call your local police department's non‑emergency number or go in person; most jurisdictions let you file an identity‑theft report without an appointment.
2. Bring the FTC Identity Theft Report, a government‑issued ID, and any proof of fraudulent activity you gathered in the 'gather essential docs' step.
3. Explain that you are a victim of identity theft; ask the officer to note 'identity‑theft' on the report and to issue a copy with an incident number.
4. Request a written 'victim of identity theft' designation if the agency provides one; it can speed up fraud‑alert requests with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
5. Keep the report, incident number, and any officer's contact info in a secure folder; you'll need them when you call the Equifax fraud line and take later protective actions.

• Call 1‑800‑525‑6285 now; have your Social Security number, police‑report reference, and a list of the fraudulent accounts ready.
• Verify your identity with the representative, who may request a driver's license or passport copy.
• Request that Equifax place a fraud alert on your file; the alert lasts 90 days and forces lenders to verify your identity.
• Ask for a temporary credit freeze while you decide on a permanent freeze; this blocks any new credit inquiries.
• Record the case reference, obtain written confirmation, and then proceed to the 'Reach Experian Fast' section for the next bureau. Equifax identity theft resources

Dial Experian's 24‑hour fraud line at 1‑800‑397‑3742 for immediate assistance. Have your Social Security number, a copy of the police report, and any proof of the theft ready; the agent will verify your identity and place a fraud alert on your file within minutes.

If you prefer not to call, submit the online fraud alert form on Experian's website (Experian fraud alert portal) or mail a signed, notarized request with the same documents; both methods typically update your record within 24 hours. After Experian confirms the alert, consider adding a credit freeze for extra protection and repeat the same steps with Equifax and TransUnion to safeguard all three bureaus.

Call TransUnion's fraud line at 1‑800‑916‑8800 or submit the claim online  -  both options let you start an identity‑theft report immediately after gathering your documentation and police report.

• Have your government ID, Social Security number, recent credit‑card statements, and the police‑report number ready.
• Provide the FTC Identity Theft Report number (if you filed one) to verify the case.
• Fill out TransUnion's online 'Identity Theft Report' form or speak with the representative; they will place a fraud alert on your file within one business day.
• Request a copy of your TransUnion credit report to review any unauthorized accounts.
• Keep the confirmation number the agent gives you; you'll need it for the upcoming fraud‑alert or credit‑freeze steps.

For detailed instructions, see TransUnion's identity‑theft reporting guide.

Quickly place a fraud alert by contacting Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion today.

1. Call Equifax's fraud line at 1‑800‑525‑6285 or submit the online form on the Equifax fraud alert page.
2. Call Experian's dedicated line at 1‑888‑397‑3742 or use the Experian fraud alert portal to add the alert.
3. Call TransUnion's alert number at 1‑800‑680‑7289 or complete the request on the TransUnion fraud alert site.
4. Provide your name, Social Security number, birth date, and a brief description of the theft; the bureau will place a 90‑day fraud alert that flags new credit inquiries.
5. Confirm the alert's activation by checking each bureau's online portal or by requesting a confirmation letter; the alert automatically notifies lenders and triggers extra identity verification.

These steps follow the police‑report and documentation steps earlier and prepare you for the next protective action - freezing your credit.

Freeze your credit the moment you discover identity theft. Call or go online with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a credit freeze; the freeze takes effect within minutes and blocks any new account openings.

Equifax requires your Social Security number, a photo ID, and the police‑report reference; you can start the process at the Equifax credit freeze page. Experian follows the same steps and offers an instant freeze at the Experian credit freeze portal. TransUnion also accepts a phone call or online request, detailed on the TransUnion credit freeze site.

A freeze stops lenders from pulling your report for new credit, but it does not affect existing accounts or a fraud alert you already placed. When you need to apply for a loan or check your score, lift the freeze temporarily with a PIN you receive during setup.

Dispute every fraudulent account the moment it appears on your credit report.

• Request your free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (AnnualCreditReport.com).
• Highlight each unauthorized entry, noting the creditor, account number, and opening date.
• Draft a dispute letter to the bureau that shows the bogus account. Attach a copy of your police report, the FTC Identity Theft Report, and a photo ID.
• Mail the letter by certified mail, request a return receipt.
• The bureau must investigate within 30 days and mail you the findings.
• If the investigation clears the entry, ask for written confirmation and an updated credit file.
• If the bureau denies the dispute, add a brief statement of disagreement to your report and consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• Contact the creditor directly to close the account and request a fraud alert on their file.

Once you've submitted the disputes, proceed to track their status as outlined in the following section.

Check your dispute by logging into each bureau's online portal - Equifax's Dispute Center, Experian's Dispute Resolution, or TransUnion's Credit Dispute page. The dashboards show a case number, current stage (investigating, resolved, or pending additional info), and any required documents; you can also call the fraud lines cited earlier for verbal updates.

If the status stays 'under review' beyond the typical 30‑day window, contact the bureau again, reference your case number, and resend any missing proof. Keep a timeline of all communications; this record becomes useful later when you explore 'caught theft years later?' strategies.

If you discover identity theft years after it occurred, you can still remediate by retracing the same checklist you would have used at the outset.

Catching theft late means the fraud has already woven into your credit history, but the bureaus allow you to flag old entries, file a new police report, and activate protective measures.

Start by requesting a fresh copy of each credit report, mark every unauthorized account, then file a police report that references the newly found evidence. Call Equifax's fraud line, reach Experian's fraud department, and notify TransUnion, just as you would have done earlier. Place a fraud alert on all three bureaus, consider a credit freeze, and dispute each bogus entry with supporting documentation. Finally, track the status of each dispute until the fraudulent lines are removed and your credit is restored.

For official guidance on filing a report, see the U.S. government's identity‑theft reporting page.