What to Do About TransUnion Identity Theft?

A TransUnion credit file freeze stops anyone - including thieves - from opening new accounts in your name, and you can lock it within minutes.

1. Collect your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and a government‑issued ID (driver's license or passport).
2. Open the TransUnion credit freeze portal or call 1‑866‑962‑2589; both options are free and available 24/7.
3. Enter the personal details, create a secure PIN or password, and answer the verification questions.
4. Review the confirmation screen, write down the freeze reference number and your PIN; you'll need them to lift or remove the freeze later.
5. Keep the PIN in a safe place and inform any existing lenders that your file is frozen so they can request a temporary lift when necessary.

Proceed to the next section to place a fraud alert across all three credit bureaus for added protection.

A fraud alert placed with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion tells lenders to verify your identity before extending credit.

• Call each bureau (Equifax 1‑800‑525‑6285, Experian 1‑888‑397‑3742, TransUnion 1‑800‑680‑7289) or submit the online form; the process is free and takes minutes.
• Provide your full name, Social Security number, and date of birth; attach a copy of a police report or FTC Identity Theft Report if you have one to strengthen the alert.
• Request an 'initial fraud alert,' which lasts 90 days and automatically notifies the other two bureaus of the alert you placed.
• Confirm the alert in writing; each bureau will mail a confirmation letter that includes a unique PIN for future changes.
• Keep the PIN handy; you'll need it to upgrade to an extended alert (seven years) or to remove the alert once the investigation ends.
• Update your credit monitoring settings to flag any new inquiries; this ensures you see attempts to bypass the alert.

Freeze your TransUnion credit file if you need an immediate, cost‑free barrier. The freeze is free, can be set online in minutes, and stays in place until you lift it with a PIN or password. It blocks new creditors from accessing your file, so fraudulent accounts can't open without your action. You'll still need to repeat the process at Equifax and Experian if you want a full three‑bureau lock.

Buy a monitoring service if you prefer continuous alerts and added insurance. Plans typically run $20‑$30 a month and scan the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) for new inquiries, accounts, and changes to your score. Monitoring doesn't stop fraud, but it notifies you quickly so you can dispute suspicious activity; many services also include up to $1 million in identity‑theft insurance. TransUnion credit file freeze vs. identity theft monitoring services.

Report the theft to the FTC and file a police report right away so you have official documentation for disputes and the upcoming TransUnion credit‑file freeze.

• Visit FTC Identity Theft Report, complete the online form with your personal details, a description of the TransUnion fraud, and attach any fraud‑alert notice you received.
• Print the confirmation page, note the case number, and store the page; you'll need it when contacting creditors and disputing entries.
• Call or go to your local police department, bring a photo ID, a copy of the FTC confirmation, and any evidence such as fraudulent TransUnion statements.
• Request a written incident report from the officer and obtain a copy that includes the FTC case number.
• Email or mail a copy of both the FTC confirmation and the police report to each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and keep the documents for future appeal steps.

Dispute each fraudulent entry directly with TransUnion, then monitor the 30‑day investigation outcome.

1. Gather documentation - pull the police report, the FTC Identity Theft Report, any account statements showing the fraud, and a copy of your driver's license or passport.
2. Choose a submission method - log into the TransUnion online dispute portal (TransUnion credit dispute) for fastest processing, or download the paper form if you prefer certified‑mail.
3. Identify the entry - enter the exact account name, number, and date as it appears on your TransUnion credit report. Mark it as 'fraudulent' and attach the documents from step 1.
4. Write a brief claim - state in one sentence that the item resulted from identity theft and that you request its removal. Keep the tone factual; avoid emotional language.
5. Send the dispute - if using the portal, click 'Submit' and save the confirmation number. If mailing, enclose copies (never originals), add a return‑receipt request, and keep a dated copy for your records.
6. Wait for the investigation - TransUnion must respond within 30 days. Review the result letter; if the entry is deleted, the fraud alert you placed earlier will automatically update. If the dispute is denied, proceed to the appeal plan in the next section.

When TransUnion rejects your dispute, use this concise appeal plan to force a reinvestigation.

• Collect proof - police report, FTC Identity Theft report, account statements, and any letters that prove the entry is fraudulent.
• Draft an appeal letter - reference the original dispute ID, cite the Fair Credit Reporting Act's right to a 'reasonable reinvestigation,' summarize the evidence, and demand removal or correction within 30 days.
• Mail it certified - send the letter and copies of supporting documents to TransUnion's consumer dispute address, keep the tracking number and receipt as proof of delivery.
• Escalate if needed - if the second review still denies you, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consider a lawsuit under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

After securing a favorable outcome, move on to contacting creditors to stop and fix the fraudulent accounts.

Call each creditor tied to the fraudulent entry, tell them you're a victim of TransUnion identity theft, and demand they immediately block, freeze, or close the account. Provide the FTC Identity Theft Report, the police report number, and a copy of your fraud alert placed with the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion); ask for written confirmation that the account is flagged as fraudulent.

Keep a log of dates, names, and reference numbers; request a new account number if the creditor insists on keeping the line open. Follow up in writing within 30 days, and if the creditor refuses, cite your right to dispute under the Fair Credit Reporting Act before moving on to ongoing monitoring in the next step.

Set up ongoing monitoring and credit alerts by activating each bureau's free fraud‑alert system and, if you want extra coverage, adding a reputable third‑party service such as thecreditpeople.com monitoring service.

Log into your TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian online portals and enable alerts for new hard inquiries, address changes, and newly opened accounts; use TransUnion fraud alerts, Equifax fraud alerts, and Experian fraud alerts. The alerts work alongside any TransUnion credit file freeze you placed earlier and will email you instantly when suspicious activity appears.

Check your reports at least once a month, either through the bureau portals or via the third‑party email summaries, and dispute any new inaccuracies right away; this continuous vigilance prepares you for the synthetic‑ID and tax‑theft cases covered next.

Synthetic ID theft blends a real Social Security number with fabricated personal data to create a phantom credit profile; tax‑related identity theft uses a stolen SSN to file false tax returns. Both require an immediate fraud alert on the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and a TransUnion credit file freeze to block new accounts while you investigate.

For a synthetic ID, contact each creditor, dispute any unauthorized accounts, and file a police report. Then call the IRS, complete Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit), and request an Identity Protection PIN to protect future filings.

In a tax‑refund fraud case, alert the state tax agency, place the same fraud alert and credit file freeze, and monitor your TransUnion file for new tax‑related inquiries. Both scenarios feed into the next section on protecting your child's TransUnion file.

Lock the child's TransUnion file with a credit file freeze and a fraud alert, then watch the file for any new activity.

You can secure the file by:

• Calling TransUnion (1‑800‑916‑8800) or using the online portal to place a TransUnion credit file freeze; keep the PIN/password safe.
• Requesting a fraud alert on the child's report; the alert automatically notifies the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) of potential misuse.
• Ordering a free copy of the child's TransUnion credit report to verify no unauthorized entries exist.
• Setting up credit monitoring alerts through a reputable service or directly with TransUnion so you receive email or text notices of any inquiry or new account.
• Keeping written proof of the freeze, fraud alert, and any monitoring enrollment for future disputes.

With the freeze and alert active, any creditor must verify the child's identity before opening a new account, buying you time to resolve the theft and prevent further fraud.

Rebuild your credit after TransUnion identity theft by adding verified, positive accounts the moment fraudulent entries are cleared. Open a secured credit card or a credit‑builder loan, become an authorized user on a well‑managed account, pay every bill on time, and keep utilization below 30 % to generate new, on‑time payment history that the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) will record.

Maintain the momentum by checking your scores weekly, setting up fraud alerts and credit‑monitoring notifications, and disputing any stray negative items that reappear. A good starting point is learning what a secured credit card is and using it responsibly; as the balance stays low and payments stay punctual, your TransUnion credit file freeze can stay lifted while you watch the score climb back toward its pre‑theft level.