Think your identity was stolen? Lock your credit first, then use this recovery guide

Think your identity was stolen? Lock your credit first, then use this recovery guide

A call from collections about an account you never opened. A loan application turned down for reasons that do not add up. A data-breach notice that comes with free credit monitoring. No matter how you discover it, the moment you suspect identity theft, speed matters — and the recovery process is far more manageable than it used to be. Most of the steps below cost nothing, and federal law offers protection throughout the process.

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Step 1: Freeze your credit with all three bureaus

Step 2: Add a fraud alert — one request reaches all three

An initial fraud alert tells lenders to take extra precautions before opening credit in your name. It is free, lasts one year, and can be renewed. Unlike a credit freeze, you only need to place it with one bureau, and that bureau must notify the other two. If you have a completed identity-theft report, you may later qualify for an extended alert that remains in place for seven years.

Step 3: File a report at IdentityTheft.gov

Step 4: Review your credit reports carefully

Step 5: Secure the accounts you already use

Step 6: Save your records and stay alert

Keep a log of every phone call, including the date, company, person you spoke with, and what was promised or agreed to. Save every letter and report. Recovering from identity theft is largely a paper trail exercise, and the person with the best documentation usually has the advantage. After that, keep up the habit: with free weekly reports and an active freeze, staying vigilant takes only a small amount of time each month. For most people, the best move is to leave the freeze in place and lift it only when applying for credit, since it remains one of the strongest free protections available.