Identity Theft: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Discovering your identity may have been stolen is disorienting. Here's a clear, prioritized order of operations for the first day.
Secure your accounts immediately
Change passwords starting with your email account, since it's often used to reset everything else. Use unique, strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever it's offered.
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
Contact one of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert, which they'll share with the other two. A credit freeze at all three bureaus is free and offers stronger protection by blocking new creditors from viewing your file entirely.
Report to the FTC
Go to IdentityTheft.gov and file a report. This generates a personal recovery plan and an identity theft affidavit that helps you dispute fraudulent accounts and can support a police report.
Check your accounts and statements closely
Review recent bank, credit card, and any other financial statements for unfamiliar activity, and set up alerts for new account openings if your bank or credit monitoring service offers them.
Document everything
Keep copies of any breach notices, fraudulent statements, correspondence with companies, and your FTC report — this documentation matters if you later decide to pursue legal action.
Key takeaway
The fastest path to recovery is securing your accounts, freezing your credit, and filing an FTC report — in that order, starting today.
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