How to Check for Identity Theft: A Step-by-Step Guide

Something felt off, and now you want to know. Here is how to look for identity theft, where to check, and what to do if you find it.

Something felt wrong. A bill you did not expect. A call about a debt you never ran up. Now you want to know how to check for identity theft before you decide what to do about it. This page walks you through it, step by step, and checking is free.

What identity theft actually is

The FTC says identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge or permission to commit fraud or theft. USAGov describes it in almost the same words. Someone uses your personal or money details without your permission.

Here is the hard part. USAGov says you may not know right away that you experienced identity theft. A thief can use your details quietly for a while. That is why checking matters, even if nothing big has gone wrong yet.

Clues that someone may have stolen your identity

USAGov names several clues that point to identity theft. Watch for these everyday clues:

Bills for things you never bought
Collectors calling about debts that are not yours
Accounts on your credit report that belong to someone else
Mail that vanishes from your mailbox or stops arriving

Any one of these is a reason to keep looking. The FTC says identity thieves can use your information to drain your bank account or run up charges on your credit cards. They can also damage your credit with unpaid bills and past due accounts. So a strange bill is not just annoying. It can be the first thread.

How to check your credit reports for accounts you didn't open

Your credit report is the main place identity theft shows up. The FTC says a credit report is a summary of your personal credit history. It lists personal details like your address and birth date. It also lists your accounts.

The FTC says it is a good idea to regularly check what's in your credit report. TransUnion says to review your credit report for signs of suspicious activity, like accounts opened that you don't recognize.

What does identity theft look like on a credit report? The FTC says mistakes on your credit report might be a sign of identity theft. Look for:

Accounts you never opened
Late payments or unpaid bills you cannot explain

One more thing. The FTC says each bureau may get its facts from different places. So one report might not match the others. So a fraudulent account might appear on one report while the other two stay clean. That is why you want all three.

How to get your free credit reports the right way

The FTC says to go to AnnualCreditReport.com to order your free yearly credit reports.

The FTC says AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official site for the free yearly reports the law gives you. You can also get a free weekly credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. So checking does not have to happen just once a year.

A few details on how it works:

The FTC says you get access immediately when you order online.
A report ordered by calling the toll-free number is processed and mailed to you within 15 days.
You may have to give your previous address if you moved in the last two years.
You must answer identity questions for each credit bureau, even when you ask all of them at once.
It may take longer if the bureau needs more details to check your identity.

The FTC says three bureaus collect and update credit reports nationwide. They are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Avoid imposter sites

The FTC warns that fake sites pretend to be linked to AnnualCreditReport.com. Some claim to offer free reports, scores, or monitoring. Some misspell AnnualCreditReport.com on purpose. They hope you mistype the real site's name. Others lead to sites that want to sell you services or collect and misuse your personal information.

Here is one safety check. The FTC says AnnualCreditReport.com and the credit bureaus will never email you asking for your Social Security number or account details. If you get an email like that, it is not them.

Scanning your bank and card statements for charges that are not yours

Yes, you can check for identity theft on your bank and card statements, and you should. TransUnion says to monitor your credit card or other account statements for purchases you didn't make. USAGov says to go through your credit card and bank statements. Flag any charge you cannot account for. Report anything odd.

Go through each statement, line by line. Look for charges you do not know. Look for withdrawals you cannot explain. Also look for any account you never opened. Small amounts count too.

Other places identity theft shows up

Your credit report and statements are the big two, but identity theft leaves traces elsewhere. Check these spots too.

Your mail. USAGov counts missing or stopped mail among its warning signs.

Your email and social media. USAGov says scammers may search your social media posts and photos for personal details.

Collections calls. USAGov counts calls from collectors about accounts you never opened among its warning signs. Write down who called and what debt they describe.

How your information gets taken. Knowing this helps you judge your own risk. USAGov says scammers may hide card readers at ATMs, cash registers, and gas pumps. These steal info from your bank card. They may use phishing through fraudulent email, texts, or phone calls. They may get personal information from your phone when you use public Wi-Fi. They may steal your wallet or purse. They may dig through your trash for bank statements or tax papers. Some even ask for personal details in online quizzes and surveys.

What to do if your check turns up something

Say you find an account you didn't open or a charge you didn't make. Checking and fixing are two different things. This page covers the looking. The next moves are covered in pages linked here.

First, place a fraud alert. The FTC says anyone who is or suspects they may be affected by identity theft can place an initial fraud alert. The CFPB agrees that if you think you may have been a victim of identity theft, you can file a fraud alert. An initial fraud alert tells businesses to check with you first. It makes lenders verify your identity before they grant new credit in your name. Experian says a fraud alert is free. No credit card is needed. It does not hurt your credit history or scores at all.

Then report it. USAGov says to report identity theft to the FTC. You can do it online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone. The FTC points you to IdentityTheft.gov. There, the FTC says, you can report identity theft and get a recovery plan. For the full picture, read about the FTC identity theft report and what to do if identity theft.

USAGov also says to contact the fraud department at every company where you hold an account. That means your card issuers, your bank, and anywhere else. The FTC also says the Fair Credit Reporting Act makes the bureaus let you dispute any mistakes. If you want to go deeper on disputing, see credit report identity theft.

How to keep checking after today

Checking once is good. Checking often is better. The FTC says you can always get a free weekly credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com. So this habit costs you nothing.

Scan your statements every time they arrive. Watch your mail for anything missing.

Two more free reports may be available to you. The FTC says fraud, including identity theft, can get you another free report. So can a fraud alert on your credit file.

For ways to lower your risk going forward, see identity fraud protection.

One last note. TransUnion says identity theft can also happen to children and can go undetected for years. USAGov says to learn how to keep your child's information safe from identity theft. If you have kids, their information is worth checking too.