How do I contact the IRS about my identity being stolen?

If you did not receive an IRS notice but believe you’ve been the victim of identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 right away so we can take steps to secure your tax account and match your SSN or ITIN.

How are you notified if your identity is stolen?

Under California law, you can report identity theft to your local police department. Ask the police to issue a police report of identity theft. Give the police as much information on the theft as possible. One way to do this is to provide copies of your credit reports showing the items related to identity theft.

How do you press charges for someone stealing your identity?

The first step you should take is to notify the Federal Trade Commission and complete an identity theft affidavit, which is part of their recovery plan. This affidavit is proof that your identity was stolen, and can be used for your creditors and credit reporting.

What do I do if my identity is stolen FTC?

To create an Identity Theft Report: file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or 1-877-438-4338; TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Your completed complaint is called an FTC Affidavit. take your FTC Affidavit to your local police, or to the police where the theft occurred, and file a police report.

Is there a way to stop identity theft?

Identitytheft.gov is a one-stop shop for information and reporting identity theft. Start with that site, which is run by the Federal Trade Commission, and follow its recommended steps to make a recovery plan. You may also need to contact your police department, the Postal Service and the credit bureaus.

What does it mean when someone steals your identity?

Identity (ID) theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit fraud. The identity thief may use your information to fraudulently apply for credit, file taxes, or get medical services.

What should I do if I find out my identity has been stolen?

4. Place a security freeze on your credit report. If you know your identifying information has been stolen, you may want to place a security freeze on your credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing any information in your credit report without your express approval.

What happens to your credit if your identity is stolen?

Using your personal data, an identity thief could open new credit accounts or apply for unsecured loans. Identity theft could also damage your credit report—jeopardizing your future applications for credit cards, loans, or even jobs.

How to protect your personal information from identity theft?

1 Secure your Social Security number (SSN). 2 Don’t share personal information (birthdate, Social Security number, or bank account number) because someone asks for it. 3 Collect mail every day. 4 Pay attention to your billing cycles Billing Cycle: the number of days between statements on a regularly recurring bill.

What to do if you think your identity has been stolen?

If you think you are a victim of identity theft, the first thing to do is limit the damage. If your credit cards or debit card were stolen, contact the card issuers and your bank immediately.

Can a person be a victim of identity theft?

Becoming a victim of identity theft is a harrowing experience. It can take months and many hours of filling out forms and working with agencies and businesses to recover your identity once it is stolen. Recognizing the signs of identity theft and taking steps to prevent it can save you months and years of heartache, stress and loss.