TL;DR: The FTC's dedicated site, IdentityTheft.gov, is the official place to report identity theft in the US and get a personalized recovery plan.
How to Report Identity Theft to the FTC — a clear, step-by-step guide to what to do and how long it takes.
Step 1: Go to IdentityTheft.gov
The FTC's dedicated site, IdentityTheft.gov, is the official place to report identity theft in the US and get a personalized recovery plan.
Step 2: File your report
Answer the guided questions about what happened — this generates an official FTC Identity Theft Report, a document many banks, creditors, and credit bureaus require when you dispute fraudulent accounts or charges.
Step 3: Download and save your report and recovery plan
The site produces a step-by-step recovery plan tailored to your situation, along with letters and forms you may need for specific next steps like disputing accounts or placing freezes.
Step 4: Use the report as documentation
Provide your FTC Identity Theft Report to your bank, credit bureaus, or any company where a fraudulent account was opened in your name to support your disputes.
Step 5: Follow the recovery plan's checklist
Work through the recommended actions in order — typically placing a fraud alert or freeze, checking your credit reports, and closing any fraudulent accounts.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading How to Report Identity Theft in the UK.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see How to Report Tax Identity Theft to the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Step 1: Go to IdentityTheft.gov
The FTC's dedicated site, IdentityTheft.gov, is the official place to report identity theft in the US and get a personalized recovery plan.
Step 2: File your report
Answer the guided questions about what happened — this generates an official FTC Identity Theft Report, a document many banks, creditors, and credit bureaus require when you dispute fraudulent accounts or charges.
Step 3: Download and save your report and recovery plan
The site produces a step-by-step recovery plan tailored to your situation, along with letters and forms you may need for specific next steps like disputing accounts or placing freezes.
Step 4: Use the report as documentation
Provide your FTC Identity Theft Report to your bank, credit bureaus, or any company where a fraudulent account was opened in your name to support your disputes.
Step 5: Follow the recovery plan's checklist
Work through the recommended actions in order — typically placing a fraud alert or freeze, checking your credit reports, and closing any fraudulent accounts.