If you have accounts on your credit report that you don’t recognize, your identity may have been stolen. This happens when someone uses your personal information to open accounts in your name.
If your identity has been stolen, you should visit identitytheft.gov to make a follow an identity recovery plan. You will have to make police reports.
If you suspect identity theft, you should immediately freeze your credit with all 3 credit bureaus. You can do this online or by phone with Transunion, Experian, and Equifax. If your credit is frozen, new credit accounts cannot be opened. If you need to open a new account, you can unfreeze your credit and then freeze it again when the new account is opened.
<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark_green.svg" width="40px" />
To Do: Make an identity recovery plan through identitytheft.gov.
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark_green.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark_green.svg" width="40px" />
To Do: Freeze your credit with Transunion, Experian, and Equifax.
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" width="40px" />
Tip: You are less likely to have your identity stolen if your credit is frozen.
</aside>