Steps to take If you've experienced Identify Theft

1. Freeze Your Credit (Best Protection)

A credit freeze blocks lenders from accessing your credit report, preventing unauthorized accounts. It’s free and can be lifted anytime.

🔹 Freeze Your Credit Online:

• Equifax: Freeze your credit | 📞 1-800-349-9960
• Experian: Freeze your credit | 📞 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: Freeze your credit | 📞 1-800-680-7289

📌 Tip: You must freeze your credit separately with each bureau for complete protection.

2. Place a Fraud Alert

If you suspect fraud but don’t want a full freeze, place a fraud alert. This tells lenders to verify your identity before issuing new credit. It lasts one year (or seven years for identity theft victims).

🔹 Place a Fraud Alert Online (Only One Bureau Needed):

• Experian: Set up a fraud alert
• Equifax: Set up a fraud alert
• TransUnion: Set up a fraud alert

📌 Tip: When you place a fraud alert with one bureau, they notify the others.

3. Opt Out of Pre-Approved Credit Offers

Prevent identity thieves from stealing mail-based pre-approved offers.
🔹 Opt-out at: OptOutPrescreen.com (5 years or permanently)

4. Monitor Your Credit Regularly

📌 Get Your Free Credit Reports:

• Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to check reports from all three bureaus for free once yearly.

🔹 Best Credit Monitoring Services:

1. Experian IdentityWorks (Link) – Monitors all three bureaus alerts on suspicious activity.
2. Equifax Complete™ (Link) – Monitors Equifax credit reports and offers identity theft protection.
3. TransUnion Credit Monitoring (Link) – Provides instant alerts and credit score tracking.
4. MyFICO (Link) – Monitors all three bureaus with FICO score updates.
5. Credit Karma (Link) – Free credit monitoring (Experian & TransUnion only).

📌 Tip: Paid services offer dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, and real-time alerts.

5. Best Identity Theft Protection Services

These services monitor your personal information, alert you to suspicious activity, and help recover stolen identities.

🔹 Top Identity Theft Protection Services:

1. LifeLock by Norton (Link)
   • Features: Dark web monitoring, SSN & credit alerts, up to $1M in identity theft insurance, and 24/7 fraud resolution.
   • Best for: Comprehensive protection & insurance.
2. IdentityForce by TransUnion (Link)
   • Features: Real-time credit monitoring, dark web scanning, bank & investment alerts, and up to $1M in ID theft insurance.
   • Best for: Detailed financial monitoring.
3. Aura Identity Guard (Link)
   • Features: AI-driven dark web monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, parental controls for family protection.
   • Best for: Family & child identity protection.
4. ID Watchdog by Equifax (Link)
   • Features: Identity monitoring, dark web scanning, credit reports, 401(k) & investment monitoring.
   • Best for: Retirement & investment security.

6. Protect Personal Information

• Use strong, unique passwords for financial accounts.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all financial and email accounts.
• Never share your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary.