How to Write Identity Theft Letter to Credit Bureaus?

Secure your police report before you draft any letters. The report validates your claim and streamlines the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit and credit‑bureau notifications that follow.

1. Contact the police department in the jurisdiction where the theft occurred. Explain that your personal information was compromised and request a case number.
2. File a formal report in person or online, providing copies of the fraudulent accounts, receipts, and any suspicious communications.
3. Ask for a written copy of the report, including the case number, date, and officer's signature.
4. Review the document for accuracy; correct misspelled names or incorrect dates while it's still fresh.
5. Store the report in a secure folder - both a physical copy and a PDF on an encrypted drive - so you can attach it to the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit (see the next section) and reference it in each letter to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Fill out the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit using the police report, then print, sign, and attach supporting documents. The completed form lets credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) verify your claim quickly.

• Gather your police report number, date, and law‑enforcement agency.
• Access the online FTC Identity Theft Affidavit at FTC Identity Theft Affidavit page or download the PDF.
• Enter personal details exactly as they appear on your credit reports, then list each fraudulent account with creditor name, account number, and date opened.
• Attach a copy of the police report and any proof of the fraudulent activity (e.g., scam emails, unauthorized transaction statements).
• Print, sign, date, and keep a copy for your records before mailing the original to the FTC and each credit bureau.

Put your full name, current mailing address, phone number, and email address directly beneath the date line. Include any reference number you received from the police report or the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit so the credit bureaus can locate your case quickly.

List the police report number and the FTC affidavit ID next to your contact details; this ties your dispute to official documentation and primes Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for the next step, where you'll chronicle how you discovered the theft.

Chronicle your theft discovery by stating the exact date you first noticed the fraud, describing how you learned of it, and summarizing the immediate steps you took - contacting the compromised institution, filing a police report, and completing the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit.

• Date you discovered the fraud (e.g., 'I first noticed unauthorized activity on 03/12/2024').
• How you discovered it (credit alert from a bureau, unexpected bill, strange login notification, etc.).
• Immediate actions taken: called the affected bank or creditor, placed a freeze or fraud alert, reported the incident to local law enforcement and obtained the police report number, completed the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, and gathered supporting documents.
• Mention that copies of the police report and FTC affidavit are attached for the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
• State that you are notifying the bureaus to prevent further damage and to initiate removal of fraudulent accounts.

• State the creditor's name exactly as it appears on the credit report.
• Identify the account type (e.g., credit card, loan, utility) and the date it was opened.
• List the account number or the last four digits if the full number is masked.
• Include the reported balance and any 'payment due' amounts.
• Reference the source of each entry (e.g., 'as shown in my Equifax report dated 03/01/2025').

Demand that the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) delete every entry linked to your identity theft immediately. Reference the police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit you gathered in the earlier steps, and attach copies to prove the theft was reported.

In the same letter, request removal of each fraudulent account by name, account number, and date of appearance. Clearly state you expect the bureaus to act within the 30‑day window, then move on to the next step of requesting an extended fraud alert.

Request an 90‑day extended fraud alert by writing to each credit bureau after you've gathered your police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit.

• State you are a victim of identity theft and refer to the attached police report and FTC affidavit.
• Ask the bureau to place an extended fraud alert on your file for 90 days.
• Include your full name, current address, Social Security number, and a copy of a government‑issued ID.
• Provide a clear deadline (e.g., 'Please confirm within 15 days') to prompt timely action.
• Sign the letter and keep a copy for your records.

The extended alert forces anyone requesting new credit in your name to verify your identity, buying you time while you dispute fraudulent accounts in the next section.

Send an identical identity‑theft letter to each credit bureau - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

All three bureaus maintain separate credit files; only one will amend its report if you contact a single bureau, leaving the other two untouched. By targeting all three, you guarantee that every file reflects the removal of fraudulent accounts and the inclusion of your police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit.

Example:

Your Name

Your Address

City, State ZIP

Phone • Email

Date

Equifax Information Services LLC

P.O. Box 740241

Atlanta, GA 30374

Re: Identity theft - request to remove fraudulent accounts

(Attach police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit)

Repeat the same block for Experian (P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013) and TransUnion (P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016). Keep the body identical, list each fraudulent account, and request removal now. Sending the same certified‑mail package to all three ensures every credit file receives the correction request simultaneously.

Send every identity‑theft letter to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by Certified Mail with a return‑receipt request. This creates a dated paper trail that the bureaus cannot ignore.

Print the address exactly as it appears on the bureau's website, attach a copy of your police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, and mark the envelope 'Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested.' Include a brief note on the inside of the envelope reminding the recipient that you expect confirmation of receipt.

Track the shipment online, save the receipt and the signed return receipt, and use those documents when you call or write after 30 days. The certified‑mail proof shows you complied with the FTC's requirement to send a written dispute.

You check the bureau's response exactly 30 days after mailing your identity‑theft letter.

1. Locate the return receipt. Certified mail provides a tracking number and a delivery confirmation. Open the receipt to verify the date the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) received your package.
2. Review any reply. If the bureau sends a letter, compare it to your original request. Confirm that they have removed the fraudulent accounts and that the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit and police report are attached.
3. Call the bureau's fraud line. Use the phone number on the reply or on the bureau's website. Mention the certified‑mail delivery date and ask for a status update. Record the agent's name, time, and any reference number.
4. Send a brief follow‑up letter if needed. Reference the original mailed date, the certified‑mail receipt, and the phone conversation. Request written confirmation that the fraud alert and removal are complete. Mail this again via certified mail.
5. Escalate after another 30 days with no satisfactory response. File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consider contacting a consumer‑rights attorney. Include copies of the police report, FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, and all correspondence.

These steps ensure you stay within the 30‑day follow‑up window while keeping a clear paper trail for each credit bureau.