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Quick answer
Accounts you didn’t open on your credit report can be a sign of identity theft. The official first step is to report it at IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a recovery plan. Under federal law, credit bureaus must block information that resulted from identity theft once you provide the required documents.
Identity theft or a reporting error?
Unfamiliar accounts don’t always mean identity theft. Sometimes a credit bureau has simply mixed your file with someone else’s. The difference matters because the next steps are different.
Identity theft
- Someone used your personal information on purpose
- New accounts, charges or loans in your name
- Often hard inquiries you didn’t make
- Starts with a report at IdentityTheft.gov
Mixed credit file
- A matching mistake by a credit bureau
- Another person’s real accounts on your report
- Often unfamiliar addresses or name variations
- Corrected through a dispute with the bureau
Think it may be a mix-up instead? Read our guide to mixed credit files.
Warning signs of identity theft
Tick anything you’ve noticed.
If you have proof, such as a report entry, a bill or an FTC report, an advocate can review it with you, free of charge.
Start a free reviewWhat the law says
Federal law gives identity theft victims specific tools to protect and correct their credit reports.
- Blocking
- Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus must block information resulting from identity theft within 4 business days of receiving your identity theft report, proof of identity and a statement of which items aren’t yours.
- Fraud alert
- A free fraud alert lasts one year and asks lenders to verify your identity. Contacting one bureau is enough, because it must notify the other two.
- Extended alert
- With an identity theft report, you can place a free extended fraud alert that lasts 7 years.
- Credit freeze
- You can freeze your credit for free at each bureau, which restricts access to your report for new accounts.
- Free disputes
- You can dispute fraudulent information at no cost, with the bureaus and with the companies that reported it.
This is a general summary of public federal law, not legal advice. State laws may give you additional rights.
First steps to take
- Report it at IdentityTheft.govThe Federal Trade Commission’s site creates an identity theft report and a personal recovery plan.
- Contact each company’s fraud departmentTell every company where an account was opened or charged that it was fraud, and ask it to close or freeze the account.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freezeBoth are free. A fraud alert asks lenders to verify your identity, and a freeze restricts new accounts.
- Ask the bureaus to block fraudulent itemsSend your identity theft report, proof of identity and a list of the items that aren’t yours.
- Keep reviewing your reportsAnnualCreditReport.com is the official site for free reports from all three bureaus.
Found accounts you didn’t open? We can review your report and documents with you.
Common questions about identity theft on your credit report
What should I do first if I find accounts I didn’t open?
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov. It creates an identity theft report and a recovery plan with the next steps.
Can fraudulent accounts be removed from my credit report?
Under federal law, credit bureaus must block information resulting from identity theft once you provide an identity theft report, proof of identity and a list of the items that aren’t yours.
What’s the difference between a fraud alert and a credit freeze?
A fraud alert asks lenders to verify your identity before opening credit. A freeze restricts access to your report for new accounts. Both are free.
Do I need a police report?
In many cases, an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov is enough. Some companies may still ask for a police report.
Sources
- IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission)
- Federal Trade Commission: Fair Credit Reporting Act
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Submit a complaint
This guide is general information based on public sources. It isn’t legal advice, and Credit Dispute is not a law firm.