Discovering that someone may be using your identity can be unsettling. Maybe you notice a purchase you did not make, an unfamiliar account on your credit report, a bill from a company you have never used, or an alert about a new account opened in your name.
Whatever brought the problem to your attention, acting quickly can help limit additional damage.
Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal or financial information without your permission. That could include your Social Security number, bank account information, credit card number, health insurance information, or other personal information. A thief may use it to make purchases, open accounts, file a fraudulent tax return, or impersonate you in other ways.
For more information read: How to Tell If Someone Is Using Your Identity.
If you are wondering what to do if your identity is stolen, these 10 steps can help you begin protecting your accounts and working through the recovery process.
1. Contact the companies where fraud occurred
Start with the financial institution, credit card company, lender, retailer, utility company, or other organization connected to the suspicious activity.
Ask for the fraud or security department and explain that you believe someone used your identity without permission.
Depending on what happened, the company may be able to:
- Block or close an affected account.
- Stop additional transactions.
- Replace a compromised debit or credit card.
- Investigate unauthorized transactions.
- Remove fraudulent accounts or charges.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends contacting companies where you know fraud occurred and asking them to close or freeze affected accounts. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for additional recovery steps.
If one of your People Driven Credit Union accounts is affected, contact PDCU as soon as possible.
2. Change compromised passwords and PINs
Change the password for any account you know or suspect has been compromised.
Do not reuse the compromised password somewhere else. If you used the same or a similar password on multiple accounts, update those accounts too.
Pay particular attention to your:
- Email.
- Online and mobile banking.
- Credit cards.
- Payment apps.
- Shopping accounts.
- Social media.
- Retirement and investment accounts.
Turn on multifactor authentication when it is available. Your email account deserves particular attention because access to email can sometimes allow someone to reset passwords for other services.
3. Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov
Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov website and report what happened.
IdentityTheft.gov can help you create an FTC Identity Theft Report and provide a recovery plan based on the type of identity theft you experienced.
Keep copies of your report and related documentation. You may need them when working with creditors, credit reporting companies, debt collectors, or other organizations.
4. Consider freezing your credit
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. This can make it harder for someone to open a new credit account using your identity.
Credit freezes are free and do not affect your credit score. To fully freeze your credit, contact each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies:
You can temporarily lift a freeze when you legitimately need a lender or another company to check your credit.
A freeze may be especially worth considering if someone has access to sensitive information such as your Social Security number or you discover an account that you did not open.
5. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports
A fraud alert is different from a credit freeze.
A fraud alert tells businesses that they should verify your identity before opening new credit in your name. An initial fraud alert is free, lasts one year, and can be renewed.
You only need to contact one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies to place an initial fraud alert. That company must notify the other two.
You can have both a credit freeze and a fraud alert at the same time.
6. Review your credit reports carefully
Check your credit reports for activity you do not recognize.
Look for:
- Accounts you did not open.
- Credit inquiries you did not authorize.
- Incorrect addresses or personal information.
- Balances that do not belong to you.
- Late payments associated with unfamiliar accounts.
You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports. If an error resulted from identity theft, IdentityTheft.gov can provide additional recovery steps.
Do not stop after finding the first unfamiliar account. Someone who has your personal information may have used it in more than one place.
7. Review your bank and credit card activity
Credit reports do not show every type of financial fraud.
Review your checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, and payment services for transactions you do not recognize.
If you find suspicious activity, contact the financial institution or card issuer using a trusted phone number, such as the number on the back of your card or the organization’s official website.
Continue watching your accounts after the initial incident. Fraudulent activity may not all appear at once.
8. Watch for tax identity theft
Stolen personal information can also be used to file a fraudulent tax return.
Signs of tax-related identity theft may include receiving an unexpected IRS notice or having your electronic tax return rejected because a return was already filed using your Social Security number.
The IRS recommends following identity theft recovery steps and considering an Identity Protection PIN. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a federal tax return using your identity.
Learn more at IRS Identity Theft Central.
9. Keep records of everything you do
Identity theft recovery can involve several companies and conversations, so document the process as you go.
Keep track of:
- The company you contacted.
- The date and time.
- The person or department you spoke with.
- Case or confirmation numbers.
- Copies of emails and letters.
- Fraudulent transactions and accounts.
- Documents you submitted.
- Steps the organization agreed to take.
Good records can make it easier to follow up and avoid having to reconstruct the situation later.
10. Use your free Allstate ID Restoration benefit
PDCU members have another resource available through SavvyMoney in the MyPDCU app: Allstate ID Restoration.
If you experience or suspect identity theft, Allstate ID Restoration walks you through questions based on your specific situation. Your responses determine which questions appear next and help provide information and direction based on your concern.
When appropriate, you can consent to share information with Allstate and connect with an Allstate expert. Even if you do not have confirmed identity theft, the experience can still provide information based on your situation and help point you toward possible next steps.
Learn more about free Allstate ID Restoration for PDCU members.
How to access Allstate ID Restoration
Allstate ID Restoration is available at no additional cost to eligible PDCU members through SavvyMoney.
To get started:
- Open the MyPDCU app.
- Scroll down to the Credit Score & Report widget.
- Tap See More.
- Scroll down and switch to the Report tab.
- Look for the Allstate Identity Protection logo.
- Tap Click here if you suspect identity theft.
- Answer the questions about your situation and follow the information provided.
Not sure whether it is identity theft?
You do not need to have everything figured out before taking action.
An unexpected credit inquiry, unfamiliar account, suspicious bank transaction, unusual bill, or notice involving your personal information can all be reasons to investigate further.
Start by gathering the information you have and checking the accounts involved. PDCU members can also use Allstate ID Restoration through SavvyMoney when they suspect identity theft but have not confirmed it.
Watch for identity theft recovery scams
Experiencing identity theft can also make you a target for additional scams.
Be careful with unexpected calls, emails, or text messages from someone claiming they can recover stolen money, restore your identity, or fix your credit.
Use contact information from official company websites, financial statements, government websites, or the back of your payment card instead of phone numbers or links sent to you unexpectedly.
Get help with identity restoration
If you are a PDCU member and experience or suspect identity theft, Allstate ID Restoration gives you a place to start.
Access the service at no additional cost through SavvyMoney in the MyPDCU app. Answer a few questions about what happened, receive information based on your situation, and connect with an Allstate expert when appropriate.
Learn about Allstate ID Restoration
Frequently asked questions about identity theft
Start by contacting the financial institution, credit card company, lender, or other organization connected to the suspicious activity. Secure affected accounts, change compromised passwords, and report identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov.
A credit freeze can make it harder for someone to open new credit accounts using your information. Freezing your credit is free, and you will need to contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately to place a freeze with each company.
No. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score. You can temporarily lift or remove the freeze when you need to apply for legitimate credit.
A fraud alert asks businesses to take additional steps to verify your identity before opening new credit. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. You can have both a fraud alert and a credit freeze at the same time.
PDCU members can access Allstate ID Restoration at no additional cost through SavvyMoney in the MyPDCU app. The experience asks questions about your situation, provides information based on your responses, and can connect you with an Allstate expert when appropriate.
John Scharff is the Digital Marketing Lead at People Driven Credit Union, where he helps create clear, practical financial content for members and the communities PDCU serves. He focuses on making financial topics easier to understand, from loans and savings accounts to digital banking, fraud prevention, and everyday money management.
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