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Identity theft is when someone uses your Personal informationWhat it means: Information that identifies or can be connected to a person.Example: Your full name together with your birthdate and home address.What to do: Share only the minimum a form actually requires.Important: Small details combined are enough for identity theft.What does this mean? — like your name, Social Security number, or account numbers — to open accounts, make charges, file taxes, or get benefits in your name. It is not your fault, and there is an official, step-by-step way to recover. [1, 2]
Know the warning signs
Signs include bills or collection calls for things you did not buy, unfamiliar accounts or inquiries on your credit report, missing mail, denied credit you did not expect, and a tax return rejected because one was already filed with your number. [1, 5]
- Read bank and card statements every month, even small charges.
- Check your credit reports free at AnnualCreditReport.com. [4]
- Open letters about accounts you don't recognize instead of throwing them away.
Freeze or flag your credit
A credit freeze stops lenders from seeing your credit report, which makes it hard to open new accounts in your name. It is free, does not affect your score, and you can lift it when you need credit. You contact each of the three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — separately. A fraud alert is a lighter option that asks lenders to verify your identity; placing one with one bureau notifies the other two. [3]
- Freeze credit at all three bureaus, not just one.
- Save the PIN or account login each bureau gives you to lift the freeze later.
- Consider freezing a child's credit too — children are common identity theft targets.
Report it and get a recovery plan
Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report what happened. It creates an FTC Identity Theft Report and a personal Recovery planWhat it means: A prepared set of actions for responding to account theft, scams, lost devices, or exposed information.Example: Written steps plus saved bank and platform support numbers.What to do: Write it now and keep a copy offline where you can reach it without your phone.Important: The first hour after a compromise matters most, so don't improvise it.What does this mean? with pre-filled letters for businesses and credit bureaus. Then call the fraud departments of any company where accounts were opened or misused, and ask them to close or freeze those accounts. [2]
- Change passwords and add multifactor on any affected online accounts.
- Ask credit bureaus to remove fraudulent accounts and inquiries using your Identity Theft Report.
- Keep copies of every letter, report number, and the name of each person you speak with.
Protect your taxes and follow up
If someone used your Social Security number for taxes, respond to any IRS notice promptly. An IRS Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit number that helps stop anyone else from filing a return with your number; anyone who can verify their identity can get one. Keep checking credit reports and statements for a year or more, since fraud can reappear later. [5, 4]
- Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN at IRS.gov — it's free.
- Set calendar reminders to check your credit reports every few months.
- Be wary of 'recovery' services that charge fees for what IdentityTheft.gov does free.
Why Hygi. recommends this — the guidance above follows these published sources:
Federal Trade Commission
What To Know About Identity Theft(opens in a new tab)Warning signs, protective steps, and where to report.
Federal Trade Commission
IdentityTheft.gov(opens in a new tab)Official FTC Identity Theft Report, personal recovery plan, and pre-filled letters.
Federal Trade Commission
Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts(opens in a new tab)Free credit freezes at each bureau and how fraud alerts differ.
Federal Trade Commission
Free Credit Reports(opens in a new tab)Checking reports free through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Internal Revenue Service
Get an Identity Protection PIN(opens in a new tab)Six-digit IP PIN that helps prevent tax-related identity theft.
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