How do I recover from identity theft?

Start your recovery at IdentityTheft.gov — the FTC's official site that generates a personalized recovery plan, an Identity Theft Report, and pre-filled dispute letters. Then freeze your credit at all three bureaus, dispute fraudulent accounts, and file a police report if needed.

Identity theft recovery has a defined process — and the federal government has built the infrastructure to walk you through it. IdentityTheft.gov is the FTC's official recovery site. It generates a personalized recovery plan based on what happened to you, creates an Identity Theft Report you can use to dispute fraudulent accounts, and produces pre-filled dispute letters for creditors and the credit bureaus. Start here before doing anything else.

Step 1: Create your FTC Identity Theft Report

At IdentityTheft.gov, select the type of fraud (new account opened in your name, tax return filed in your name, etc.) and answer a series of questions. The site creates an official FTC Identity Theft Report — a document with legal weight that creditors and credit bureaus are required to honor when you dispute fraudulent accounts. Save or print it; you'll use it repeatedly.

Step 2: Freeze your credit at all three bureaus

A credit freeze blocks new creditors from pulling your file — preventing additional fraudulent accounts from being opened. Under federal law it's free and permanent until you lift it. You must freeze separately at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. See how to freeze your credit for the step-by-step. The freeze does not affect your existing accounts or your credit score.

Step 3: Dispute fraudulent accounts and charges

Contact each creditor where a fraudulent account was opened. Provide your FTC Identity Theft Report. Creditors must investigate and, if the account is fraudulent, close it and remove associated charges.
Write to each credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to dispute fraudulent accounts appearing on your report. Include your FTC Identity Theft Report — bureaus must block fraudulent information from your report within 4 business days of receiving it, per the CFPB.
Request free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to identify all fraudulent accounts — review all three bureau reports.
If your Social Security number was used, contact the Social Security Administration and consider placing an extended fraud alert (7 years) rather than a standard 1-year alert.

Step 4: File a police report if needed

A police report is not always required, but some creditors, insurers, or employers ask for one. File a report with your local police department and provide a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report. Keep a copy of the police report number — it strengthens your dispute record. If someone is using your identity to commit crimes (presenting your ID, using your name with law enforcement), the FTC advises contacting the agencies involved to clear your record.

Ongoing: monitor and document everything

Keep a log of every call, letter, and dispute — including dates, names, and confirmation numbers. Identity theft resolution can take months. Continue pulling your free credit reports periodically. The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov tracks your recovery steps and lets you mark items complete as you work through them.

What the FTC and CFPB say

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government's one-stop resource for identity theft victims — it generates a personalized recovery plan, an official Identity Theft Report, and pre-filled letters for creditors and credit bureaus. — FTC — IdentityTheft.gov
Credit bureaus must block fraudulent information from a victim's report within 4 business days of receiving an identity theft report, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. — CFPB
An extended fraud alert — available to confirmed identity theft victims — lasts 7 years and requires lenders to verify your identity before opening new credit. Placing one also entitles you to two free credit reports from each bureau within 12 months. — FTC — Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
Free copies of your credit reports from all three bureaus are available at AnnualCreditReport.com — the only federally authorized source for free reports. — CFPB

Key takeaways

Start at IdentityTheft.gov — it creates your official FTC Identity Theft Report and a step-by-step plan tailored to your situation.
Freeze your credit at all three bureaus immediately to prevent additional fraudulent accounts.
Credit bureaus must block fraudulent items within 4 business days when you submit an identity theft report.
Document everything: dates, names, confirmation numbers. Recovery can take months and a paper trail is essential.
Pull your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to find all accounts opened without your authorization.