Identity theft occurs when someone uses an individual’s personal information without permission to receive some kind of benefit, most commonly money and property.

Personal data may also be used by an imposter to fraudulently obtain employment, housing, medical care, utility services, education, or to avoid a record of arrest or conviction.   

With increasing reliance on technologies to communicate and conduct business, opportunities for criminals to victimize have multiplied. Individuals need to react quickly to victimization and take preventive steps to ensure their personal data is secure.

The following resources provide guidance on what to do if you become a victim of identity theft as well as resources to assist in responding to and preventing this crime.

Close Compromised Accounts Immediately

Contact every company where an account has been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Review your credit reports for additional fraudulent accounts. Close them where necessary. Follow up in writing.

File a Police Report

Report the identity theft to your local law enforcement agency. Provide the police with a copy of your FTC complaint and request them to attach it to the police report. Ask for a copy of the report for your records.

Place a Fraud Alert

Place a 90-day fraud alert on your credit report and obtain a copy of your credit report by contacting one of these credit reporting agencies (CRAs). The CRA you contact must notify the others.

TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com

Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com

Report Identity Theft

Complete the online complaint form and provide a printed copy of it to your local law enforcement agency to be attached to your police report. The report is needed to correct any errors on your credit report or challenge fraudulent transactions. 

Further Steps to Protect Yourself 

Obtain a copy of your credit report periodically and review it carefully. You have a right to one free credit report each year from each credit reporting agency. To request a copy of your credit report, go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

Seven-Year Fraud Alert

Consider placing a seven-year extended fraud alert on your credit report. You must provide a copy of your identity theft report and explain how creditors can contact you. The credit reporting companies will put your contact information on the extended fraud alert to tell potential creditors they must contact you before issuing credit in your name.

Credit Freeze

Consider placing a freeze on your credit. A credit freeze prevents the credit reporting agency from releasing a consumer’s credit report or any information from it without the consumer’s express authorization.

To place a credit freeze, victims must send their request to each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies along with a police report or police case number documenting identity theft. Keep in mind that if you wish to get credit, you will have to temporarily “unfreeze” your credit.

You can make your request using the Minnesota Department Commerce Credit Report Freeze Request form.

For more information, see the Minnesota Attorney General website.