Who to Call for Identity Theft

For suspected identity theft, report the case to the Federal Trade Commission and contact every agency, bank, card issuer, or credit bureau affected. If money, tax records, federal benefits, or credit accounts are involved, also notify the organization responsible for that specific account.

Use the verified contact block on this page or a number printed on an official statement, card, or government notice. Do not trust a phone number from an unexpected call, text message, email, advertisement, or search result.

Who to Call for Identity Theft

Who to call for identity theft depends on what information was taken and how it was used. The Federal Trade Commission accepts identity theft reports and provides a personal recovery plan, but affected organizations must also be contacted directly.

• For federal benefits, contact the agency that administers the affected benefit. Report any unfamiliar application, payment change, or account update.

• For tax identity theft, contact the Internal Revenue Service. Tax identity theft includes someone using another person’s Social Security number on a tax return or employment record.

• For credit cards, loans, or accounts opened without permission, contact the lender or card issuer and the three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

• For checking accounts, debit cards, transfers, or altered checks, contact the bank or credit union immediately. Ask for its fraud department.

• For a stolen Social Security number, contact the affected organizations and review Social Security records for unfamiliar activity. Contact the Social Security Administration when benefit records or access to a Social Security account may be affected.

• For a stolen driver’s license or state identification card, contact the issuing state motor vehicle agency.

• For stolen mail or mail-related identity theft, contact the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Contact local law enforcement if the Federal Trade Commission recovery plan, an affected institution, or another agency asks for a police report, or if the incident also involves another crime or an immediate safety concern.

Official Identity Theft Phone Numbers

The safest identity theft phone number is one verified by the organization that owns the account or handles the report. Use the official numbers displayed in the verified contact block on this page; this article does not repeat numbers because copied contact details can become outdated or be altered by scammers.

• Federal Trade Commission: general identity theft reporting and a recovery plan.

• Internal Revenue Service: suspected tax identity theft and notices involving returns or employment records.

• Social Security Administration: suspected misuse affecting Social Security benefits or account access.

• Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion: fraud alerts, credit freezes, and disputes involving credit reports.

• Your bank, credit union, lender, or card issuer: unauthorized accounts, transactions, transfers, checks, or changes to account details.

• United States Postal Inspection Service: identity theft connected with stolen or misused mail.

If you are asking what number to call for identity theft, verify the identity theft hotline number before sharing any information. A caller who contacted you first should not be treated as a verified source.

What to Do Before You Call

Gather enough information to identify the problem without creating another copy of sensitive data. Do not send passwords, one-time verification codes, full payment card details, or identity documents unless you are using a verified process and the organization explains why they are needed.

• Your name and reliable contact information.

• The affected institution and the last few digits of the account, if available.

• Dates when you noticed the problem and when suspicious activity occurred.

• Transaction descriptions, merchant names, unfamiliar account changes, or application notices.

• Copies of statements, letters, alerts, emails, and screenshots that show the issue.

• Any report, dispute, or confirmation number already issued.

Keep original documents. Make notes of whom you contacted, when you contacted them, and what action was requested.

How to Report Identity Theft

A call to report identity theft should create a record that can be used during recovery. The Federal Trade Commission offers online and telephone reporting options; use the verified contact information shown on this page.

1. Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission and describe only activity you recognize as fraudulent.

2. Save the identity theft report, recovery plan, and confirmation information.

3. Contact each affected institution through a verified channel and ask for its fraud or identity theft department.

4. Identify unauthorized accounts, transactions, or changes separately. Follow the institution’s instructions for written disputes and supporting records.

5. Review later statements, credit reports, agency notices, and confirmation letters to make sure requested corrections were recorded.

If an organization requires a police report or another identity theft affidavit, ask exactly what document is required and where it must be submitted.

How to Protect Your Accounts and Credit

Protect unaffected accounts as soon as identity theft is suspected. A fraud alert tells potential creditors to take extra steps to verify identity, while a credit freeze restricts access to a credit file until the consumer lifts it.

1. Contact affected financial institutions and secure or restrict compromised accounts.

2. Change compromised passwords from a trusted device. Use a different, unique password for each important account.

3. Replace exposed security questions and review recovery email addresses, phone numbers, devices, and active sessions.

4. Review credit reports from all three nationwide credit bureaus for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.

5. Request a fraud alert from a nationwide credit bureau, or place a credit freeze separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

6. Continue checking statements and official notices for activity that appeared after the first report.

How to Recover Access After Identity Theft

To restore access, begin with the affected organization’s official account-recovery process. Do not use a recovery link or identity theft help phone number supplied by an unexpected caller or message.

1. Use the organization’s verified sign-in or recovery page and select the option for a forgotten password, locked account, or compromised account.

2. Complete identity checks using information requested through that verified process. Never give a one-time code to someone who contacted you.

3. If standard recovery fails, contact the organization’s fraud or account-security team and provide the existing case or confirmation number.

4. Ask what supporting documents are accepted, how they should be submitted, and how to confirm receipt.

5. Record each escalation and keep copies of submissions and decisions.

If access remains blocked, use the organization’s formal complaint or escalation process. An identity theft report supports the request, but it does not guarantee that an account, benefit, transaction, or credit record will be restored.