TL;DR: Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, freeze your credit with all three bureaus (free), and dispute fraudulent accounts. Your state attorney general's office can add local help, and this guide links the official identity theft pages we could verify.
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The same first steps in every state
Identity theft reporting starts at the national level and is the same wherever you live in the US.
- Report it: file a report at IdentityTheft.gov, run by the FTC. It creates an official record you can use to dispute fraudulent accounts and charges.
- Freeze your credit: contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Credit freezes are free nationwide and block new credit being opened in your name until you lift the freeze.
- Dispute the damage: use your report as documentation when disputing fraudulent accounts or charges with the creditor or bank involved.
- File a police report if needed: many creditors and credit bureaus require one to process disputes.
- Change passwords: update any account that may have been exposed, starting with email and banking.
State attorney general identity theft pages
Many state attorney general or consumer protection offices publish their own identity theft help. These are the official pages we could verify. Pages change, so check the state's site for current details.
- Arkansas: Arkansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- California: State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
- Connecticut: Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- Delaware: Delaware Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Unit
- Florida: Office of the Attorney General, State of Florida
- Hawaii: Department of the Attorney General, State of Hawaii
- Illinois: Office of the Illinois Attorney General
- Indiana: Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, Identity Theft Unit
- Iowa: Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
- Kansas: Kansas Attorney General's Office
- Kentucky: Office of the Attorney General
- Maine: Maine Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- Massachusetts: Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
- Michigan: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Michigan Identity Theft Support (MITS)
- Minnesota: Office of Minnesota Attorney General
- Missouri: Missouri Attorney General's Office
- Nevada: Nevada Attorney General
- New York: Office of the New York Attorney General
- North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ)
- North Dakota: North Dakota Attorney General's Office
- Ohio: Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section
- Oregon: Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection Division
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
- South Dakota: South Dakota Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- Tennessee: Tennessee Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs
- Texas: Office of the Attorney General (Texas)
- Utah: Office of the Utah Attorney General
- Vermont: Office of the Vermont Attorney General, Consumer Assistance Program
- Washington: Washington State Office of the Attorney General
- West Virginia: West Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Anti-Trust Division
- Wisconsin: Bureau of Consumer Protection, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
- Wyoming: Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit (CPAU), Wyoming Attorney General's Office
States without a verified page here
We could not verify a dedicated identity theft page for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia. In these states, start with IdentityTheft.gov and contact your state attorney general's consumer protection office for local guidance.
An example of a state-specific right
The California Attorney General says California identity theft victims with a police report are entitled to up to 12 free credit reports, one per month for the 12 months following the date of the police report. Other states have their own rules, so check your state's page.
More guides on this topic
Living elsewhere? See the identity theft reporting guide for another country, or the guide for a third country. If a scammer posed as your bank, see the bank impersonation scams guide.
Identity theft often starts with a leaked email or reused password. A free digital footprint check shows whether your email or number appears in exposed data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report identity theft in the US?
File a report at IdentityTheft.gov, run by the FTC. It gives you an official record for disputing fraudulent accounts. A local police report can also help because many creditors and bureaus ask for one.
Is a credit freeze free?
Yes. Credit freezes are free nationwide. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to place one, and it blocks new credit being opened in your name until you lift it.
What should I do first if my identity was stolen?
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov, place a freeze with the credit bureaus, and change passwords on any accounts that may have been exposed.
Does my state attorney general help with identity theft?
Many state attorney general or consumer protection offices publish identity theft guidance and can offer local help. This guide links the official pages we could verify.
Do California victims get free credit reports?
The California Attorney General says victims with a police report are entitled to up to 12 free credit reports, one per month for 12 months after the report date.
Sources
- FTC – IdentityTheft.gov
- California Attorney General – Identity theft victim checklist
- Texas Attorney General – Identity theft
- New York Attorney General – Identity theft
- Ohio Attorney General – Identity theft