EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDE

Quick response guides for common digital emergencies

1 Contain / 2 Recover / 3 Prevent

1 Contain

Stop the damage immediately

  1. Place a fraud alert: Call any one credit bureau to place a free fraud alert. They notify the other two. Experian: 1-888-397-3742.
  2. Freeze your credit: Request a credit freeze at all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to block new accounts from being opened.
  3. Call your financial institutions: Contact the fraud department at every bank, credit card company, or lender where you see unauthorized activity. Have them freeze or close compromised accounts.
  4. File a police report: Bring any evidence of the theft (fraudulent statements, collection letters, breach notifications).
  5. Save all evidence: Keep fraudulent bills, unauthorized credit statements, debt collection letters, and breach notification emails. Do not delete or discard anything.

2 Recover

Get back to normal

  1. File an FTC report at IdentityTheft.gov: Complete the online form to get a personalized recovery plan and an official FTC Identity Theft Affidavit.
  2. Build your Identity Theft Report: Your FTC affidavit combined with your police report forms the official Identity Theft Report. This gives you legal rights to dispute and remove fraudulent accounts.
  3. Dispute fraudulent accounts: Contact each company where fraud occurred. Send a written dispute with a copy of your Identity Theft Report and request closure of all fraudulent accounts. Keep records of every communication.
  4. Review your credit reports: Pull free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute any accounts or inquiries you do not recognize with each bureau.
  5. Handle SSN compromise: If your Social Security number was stolen, call the SSA fraud line (1-800-269-0271), file IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit), and notify your state tax agency. File taxes early before a fraudster can.
  6. Extend your fraud alert: Use your Identity Theft Report to request a 7-year extended fraud alert from any one bureau for longer protection.

3 Prevent

Stop it from happening again

  • Find the source: Determine how your identity was compromised (stolen wallet, data breach, phishing, or mail theft) so you can close that vector.
  • Guard personal info: Shred sensitive documents, never carry your SSN card, and use a locked mailbox or P.O. box.
  • Keep credit frozen permanently: Only thaw when you are actively applying for new credit, then re-freeze immediately.
  • Monitor regularly: Check bank statements and credit reports frequently. Set up free alerts through your bank or credit bureau.
  • Secure your accounts: Enable two-factor authentication on all financial and email accounts. Use a password manager with unique passwords for every site.

Key Contacts

  • FTC Identity Theft Recovery: IdentityTheft.gov
  • Experian Fraud: 1-888-397-3742
  • Equifax Fraud: 1-888-766-0008
  • TransUnion Fraud: 1-800-680-7289
  • Social Security Fraud: 1-800-269-0271
  • IRS Identity Theft: 1-800-908-4490
  • Annual Credit Reports: AnnualCreditReport.com / 1-877-322-8228
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov

Outside the United States? View international reporting resources

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