How to Report Identity Theft to Experian?

Collect the following documents before you contact Experian.

• A government‑issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport.
• Your most recent Experian credit report that shows the fraudulent entries.
• A copy of the police report (or report number) you filed regarding the theft.
• The FTC Identity Theft Report (or case number) you obtained from IdentityTheft.gov.
• Proof of current residence, like a utility bill or lease agreement, to confirm your address.

Place a fraud alert with Experian right away by calling 1‑888‑397‑3742 or visiting the Experian fraud alert page. The alert locks new credit in your name for 90 days while you sort out the theft.

1. Gather proof - Have a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, police report, or any notice from a creditor that shows fraud.
2. Provide personal details - Give Experian your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current address.
3. Explain the theft - State that you are a victim of identity theft and request a fraud alert.
4. Confirm the alert - Experian will email or mail a confirmation; keep it with your other documents from the 'gather these documents' step.
5. Get free reports - After the alert is set, you can request a free credit report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion within the next 90 days.
6. Consider an extended alert - If you can provide a police report, you may upgrade to a 7‑year extended fraud alert; Experian will guide you through that process.
7. Plan the next move - Once the alert is live, move on to the 'freeze your Experian credit fast to block accounts' section to add an extra layer of protection.

Freeze your Experian credit fast to block accounts by using Experian's online freeze tool or calling 1‑877‑284‑2320; the freeze activates within minutes.

You'll need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and a PIN you create; the service is free, stays in place until you lift it with that PIN, and works hand‑in‑hand with the fraud alert you set earlier. For the next step, use freeze your Experian credit online before filing the theft report.

Submit your theft report through Experian's online Identity Theft Report form; the portal captures all required details instantly.

• Visit the Experian Identity Theft Report portal
• Log in with your Experian account or create a free one
• Choose 'Report Identity Theft' and enter your personal information
• Describe the fraudulent activity and upload supporting documents (government ID, police report, FTC report)
• Review the summary, then submit; Experian emails you a case number
• Keep the case number handy for the upcoming fraud alert, credit freeze, or any phone calls to Experian

Call Experian's dedicated theft line at 1‑888‑397‑3742 or mail a written report to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Do this after you've placed a fraud alert and gathered the documents listed earlier.

What to have ready before you call or post

• Full name, Social Security number, and current address (as on your credit file)
• Copy of the FTC Identity Theft Report or police‑report reference number
• List of fraudulent accounts, dates, and amounts you see on your Experian report
• A brief, typed statement that you are reporting identity theft and requesting a fraud alert or credit freeze

What to include in the mailed letter

• Your name and all contact information
• A clear statement of the theft, including 'I am reporting identity theft under the Fair Credit Reporting Act'
• Copies (not originals) of the FTC report, police report, and any proof of the fraudulent activity
• Your signature and the date

After you've spoken with a representative or sent the letter, you'll move to the next step: the five pieces of information Experian will ask to verify your identity.

When you report identity theft, Experian typically asks for five pieces of information to confirm you are the account holder.

• Your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
• A government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport) with number and expiration date.
• Your current residential address and a recent utility or rental bill that shows the same address.
• The last four digits of a credit card, bank account, or loan you own.
• Answers to two security questions you set up when you created your Experian account.

Document every interaction with Experian in writing, noting date, time, representative's name, reference or case number, and a brief summary of what was discussed. Use the exact wording you receive; this creates an immutable record if disputes arise later.

Store notes in one place - an encrypted spreadsheet, a dedicated notebook, or the 'My Account' message center on Experian's website - so you can retrieve them instantly. Save all email confirmations and, where legally permissible, record phone calls or write a post‑call recap within 24 hours.

Maintain a chronological timeline and flag any promised follow‑ups; a typical response window is 48 hours, so a missed deadline signals you should call back or escalate. Having a complete log simplifies attaching proof when you later file FTC or police reports, which we cover next.

File an FTC Identity Theft Report and a police report to give Experian solid backup for your claim. These documents prove the theft to Experian and speed up dispute resolution.

• Visit FTC Identity Theft Report, complete the online form, then print the Identity Theft Affidavit with your case number; keep a digital copy.
• Call or visit your local police department, provide identification and a detailed account of the fraud, request a written report that includes the incident number, and obtain a copy for your records.
• Store the FTC Affidavit and police report together in a secure folder; note both case numbers for reference.
• When you place a fraud alert, freeze your credit, or dispute fraudulent accounts, attach the two reports; Experian typically asks for them to verify the theft.

Dispute fraudulent accounts on your Experian report by filing a dispute and supplying proof that the account isn't yours.

1. Gather proof - collect the police report, FTC Identity Theft Report, and any correspondence showing you never opened the account.
2. Log in - sign into your Experian account or create one at the Experian online dispute center.
3. Find the entry - locate the fraudulent account in the credit‑report view and click 'Dispute'.
4. Select 'Fraudulent' - choose the reason 'Account is not mine' and optionally add 'Identity theft' for clarity.
5. Upload documents - attach the police report, FTC report, and any proof of fraud alert or credit freeze you placed earlier.
6. Submit the dispute - confirm submission; Experian must investigate within 30 days.
7. Track status - check the 'Dispute History' tab daily; Experian will email updates and a final results letter.
8. Respond if needed - if Experian requests more info, provide it within the given deadline to keep the investigation moving.
9. Review the outcome - when the dispute closes, verify the fraudulent entry is removed or marked 'disputed' and that your score reflects the change.

The quickest way to push an Equifax score update is to align your actions with the bureau's daily processing cycle and creditor reporting windows. Three moves give you control over how fast the next update appears.

1. Pay before the creditor's reporting cut‑off - Most lenders batch data monthly, typically on the 15th or end of month. Posting a payment a few days earlier (for example, on the 1st if the cut‑off is the 15th) ensures the positive balance reaches Equifax in the next batch, leading to an update within 24‑48 hours after the batch is processed.
2. Ask the lender for a real‑time furnish - Many banks offer a 'quick update' service that transmits the payment or balance change to Equifax instantly or within one business day. Call the creditor's customer service and request a rapid data furnish; once received, Equifax reflects the change at its next daily run (Equifax's daily processing schedule).
3. Resolve disputes promptly - Open disputes or errors keep your file in a 'hold' state. Use the online dispute portal to submit evidence and request a fast resolution. After Equifax closes the dispute, the bureau incorporates the corrected information during its next daily update, often within a few days.

These three steps target the timing of data flow, letting you see an Equifax score update as quickly as the system permits.

Report identity theft for a minor by having a parent or legal guardian file a fraud alert, and report for a deceased person by having the executor or next‑of‑kin submit a death‑related request.

A guardian starts the process on Experian's online portal or by calling 1‑888‑EXPERIAN, then uploads the child's birth certificate, Social Security card, and a notarized proof of guardianship; Experian places a 90‑day fraud alert on the minor's file and tags it as 'minor' so future lenders see the warning. After the alert, you can follow the steps in 'freeze your Experian credit fast to block accounts' to lock the credit entirely.

An executor initiates the deceased request by mailing a notarized letter, the death certificate, probate paperwork, and a copy of the executor's ID to Experian's deceased‑consumer department; Experian then closes the file, adds a permanent fraud alert, and flags the record as 'deceased,' preventing new accounts from being opened. Once the alert is active, proceed to 'dispute fraudulent accounts on your Experian report' to remove any theft‑related entries.