{"id":163482,"date":"2023-01-23T19:22:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T03:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=163482"},"modified":"2024-06-21T10:50:08","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T17:50:08","slug":"what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Recover Your Identity After It Has Been Stolen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s been like this from the start\u2014wherever people shop, do business, or simply gather together, you\u2019ll find thieves in the mix, ready to take advantage. And that\u2019s truer today when it comes to life online as cybercriminals use the internet to steal financial or personal data for their personal gain\u2014otherwise known as identity theft.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This is a criminal act and can affect your credit score in a negative way and cost money to fix. It can also affect employment opportunities since some employers conduct a credit check on top of drug testing and a criminal history check. Identity theft victims may even experience an impact to their mental health as they work to resolve their case.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This could include private details like your birth date, bank account information, Social Security number, home address, and more. With data like this, an individual can adopt your identity (or even create a fake identity using pieces of your personal profile) and apply for loans, credit cards, debit cards, and more.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You don\u2019t have to be kept in the dark, though. The good news is that being able to recognize the signs of identity theft means you can act quickly to intervene and minimize any effects in case it happens to you. You can also protect yourself by using preventive measures and engaging in smart online behavior.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Steps to take if you think your identity has been stolen<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are several signs that your identity has been stolen, from a change in your credit score to receiving unfamiliar bills and debt collectors calling about unfamiliar new accounts. It may be an unusual charge on one of your cards, however small. Or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/credit-monitoring?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">you may use a credit monitoring service like ours and receive an alert of suspicious activity<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. However it comes to your attention, you can act fast to minimize what happens.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">File a police report<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:450}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Start by contacting law enforcement to file a report. Your local police department can issue a formal report, which you may need to get your bank or other financial institution to reverse fraudulent charges. An official report assures the bank that you have been affected by identity fraud and that it&#8217;s not a scam.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Before going to the police, gather all the relevant information about what happened. This could include the dates and times of fraudulent activity and any account numbers affected. Bringing copies of your bank statements can be useful. Also, make note of any suspicious activity that could be related. For example, was your debit card recently lost or your email hacked? The police will want to know.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Notify the company where the fraud occurred<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:450}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You should also notify any businesses linked to your identity theft case. Depending on the type of identity theft, this could include banks, credit card companies, medical offices, health insurers, e-commerce stores, and more. Similarly, a fraudster may assume your identity to gain access to health care services, such as medical checkups, prescription drugs, or pricey medical devices. For instance, if someone uses your health insurance to get prescription drugs from a pharmacy, make sure to alert the pharmacy and your insurer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">File a report with the Federal Trade Commission<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:450}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government body that protects consumer interests. You can report identity theft via their portal,\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.identitytheft.gov\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">IdentityTheft.gov<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. They\u2019ll then use the details you provide to create a free recovery plan you can use to address the effects of identity theft, like contacting the major credit bureaus or alerting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fraud department. You can report your case\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.identitytheft.gov\/#\/assistant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">online<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u202for by calling 1-877-438-4338.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Outside of the U.S.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/support\/?locale=en-US&amp;articleId=TS103163&amp;fromSearch=true&amp;page=shell&amp;shell=article-view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">our knowledge base article on identity theft offers suggestions for the specific steps you can take in specific countries<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, along with helpful links for local authorities that you can turn to for reporting and assistance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ask credit reporting agencies to issue a fraud alert<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:450}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A common consequence of identity theft is a dip in the victim\u2019s credit score. For example, a cybercriminal may take out new lines of credit in the victim\u2019s name, accrue credit card debt, and then not pay the balance. For this reason, contacting the credit monitoring bureaus is one of the most important steps to take in identity theft cases.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are three main agencies in the U.S.: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can get a free credit report from each agency every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com. Check the report and note all fraudulent activity or false information and flag it with the relevant bureau\u2019s fraud department. You should also initiate a fraud alert with each agency.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A fraud alert requires any creditors to verify your identity before opening a new line of credit. This adds an extra layer of security. An initial fraud alert lasts for 90 days. Once this expires, you can prolong your protection via an extended fraud alert, which will remain valid for seven years. You can notify one of the big three bureaus to set it up. They are then required to notify the other two bureaus.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/security-freeze\/\">credit freeze<\/a> is another smart move, which you can do through each of the three major credit bureaus. You can either call them or start the process online. This prevents people from accessing your credit report. Lenders, creditors, retailers, landlords, and others may want to see your credit as proof of financial stability. For example, if someone tries to open a phone contract under your name, the retailer may check the credit report. If there is a credit freeze in place, they won\u2019t be able to view it and won\u2019t issue the contract. If you need to allow someone access to your credit report, you can temporarily lift the freeze. And depending on your plan, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/security-freeze?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">you can issue a credit freeze or an even more comprehensive security freeze right from the McAfee app<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Change passwords for your accounts<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:450}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Identity theft is often linked with leaked or hacked passwords. Even if you aren\u2019t sure whether your passwords have been compromised, it\u2019s best to play it safe. Change passwords to any affected accounts. Make sure to use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts with a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/identity-theft\/protection.html?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">password manager included with comprehensive online protection software can do the work for you<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> by creating and securely storing them for you. Further, if there\u2019s a chance to activate two-factor authentication on your accounts go ahead and use it as it makes accessing accounts with a stolen password more difficult.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is it possible to prevent identity theft?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Putting thorough protections in place can greatly reduce your risk of identity theft. As mentioned above, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/identity-theft\/protection.html?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee+ plans offer a broad set of features that can help protect your identity.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> You <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/credit-monitoring?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">monitor your credit<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/identity-monitoring?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">monitor your identity<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, and even help you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/identity-theft-coverage?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">restore your credit with identity theft &amp; restoration services that cover up to $2 million in losses<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> due to identity theft and connect you with recovery pros who can help you clean up your credit.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Additionally, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/content\/dam\/consumer\/en-us\/docs\/guides\/gd-identity-protection-security-guide.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">you can grab a copy of our free Identity Protection Guide that covers the topic in detail<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2014it\u2019s part of our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/resources\/reports-and-guides.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee Safety Series<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, dedicated to ways you can protect yourself for a safer, more enjoyable life online.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:420}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If identity theft happens to you \u2026<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:210,&quot;335559740&quot;:480}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Realizing that you\u2019ve become a victim carries plenty of emotion with it, which is understandable\u2014the thief has stolen a part of you to get at your money, information, or even reputation. Once that initial rush of anger and surprise has passed, it\u2019s time to get clinical and get busy. Right away.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think like a detective who is building\u2014and closing\u2014a case. That\u2019s exactly what you\u2019re doing. Follow the steps, document each one, and build up your case file as you need. Staying cool, organized, and ready with an answer for any questions you\u2019ll face in the process of restoring your identity will help you see things through.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s been like this from the start\u2014wherever people shop, do business, or simply gather together, you\u2019ll find thieves in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1407,"featured_media":163483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10670,13],"tags":[4549,15722],"coauthors":[15735],"class_list":["post-163482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-privacy-identity-protection","tag-ransomware","tag-stolen-identity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Recover Your Identity After It Has Been Stolen | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s been like this from the start\u2014wherever people shop, do business, or simply gather together, you\u2019ll find thieves in the mix, ready to take advantage.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Recover Your Identity After It Has Been Stolen | McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s been like this from the start\u2014wherever people shop, do business, or simply gather together, you\u2019ll find thieves in the mix, ready to take advantage.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-24T03:22:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-21T17:50:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/300x200_Blog_012323.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jasdev Dhaliwal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jasdev Dhaliwal\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jasdev Dhaliwal\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/49b8ff7075f52333a95710a8340c326f\"},\"headline\":\"How To Recover Your Identity After It Has Been Stolen\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-24T03:22:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-21T17:50:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/\"},\"wordCount\":1354,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/what-should-you-do-if-your-identity-has-been-stolen\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/300x200_Blog_012323.png\",\"keywords\":[\"ransomware\",\"stolen identity\"],\"articleSection\":[\"How To Guides and Tutorials\",\"Privacy &amp; 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