You will be asked for your SSN and other identifying information through an automated service. The alert will be passed on to the other two bureaus and all three credit bureaus will send you a letter to confirm the fraud alert is in place. You will also be given directions for obtaining your credit report for free from each of the bureaus.

The credit reports will have a telephone number listed on them if you need to contact the bureaus about fraudulent activity listed on the reports. Get Copies of Your Credit Report. Send for your credit reports following the instructions from the credit bureaus. Review the reports carefully.

Look for creditor's names that you did not request credit from. Also check your personal information; SSN, address, name, initials and employer information.

Order your credit report at least every three months for the first year of the fraud. Some areas provide a free report every 12 months. Other areas will give you several free reports for the year you report an identity theft. Some will charge for each report. Tell them you are an identity theft victim and ask for a free report.

File a Police Report
Keep records of the fraudulent activity as proof for your report. Blackout unrelated activity and give copies to the police. Give them any new evidence as it turns up and keep a copy of the report as proof for creditors and the credit bureaus.
 

Collect Account Information
Contact the creditors who issued accounts to the identity thief. The Police may give you a form to request the information. Send a copy of the police report and the account statements to the creditor. Pass any new information over to the police.

Close the Accounts
For NEW Accounts created by the thief: Call the creditors (including credit cards, department stores and cell phone accounts) and ask for their security or fraud department. Tell them you are an identity theft victim and ask them to close the accounts and report the closing to the credit bureau. If the account has already been used by the thief ask them not to hold you responsible for the debt.

For EXISTING Accounts used fraudulently by a thief: Close the accounts and ask the creditors to report the closing to the credit bureaus. Request that they declare the account "closed at consumer's request". If you open a new account don't use personal information like your mother's maiden name or your SSN for a password. If those are the only options request to use a different password.

Alert Government Agencies
If your driver's license or other government ID has been stolen report it to the proper agency to cancel it and order a replacement. Ask that your information be flagged so that no one else can get copies.

Complete an Identity Theft Affidavit
In order to remove the debts created by the identity theif you will need to send an affidavit to the company or creditor holding the debt. When you contact them to close the accounts ask what forms they require. The affidavit permits them to investigate the claim – it does not ensure that the debt will be cleared.

While each business may have its own requirements you can also obtain a free affidavit form at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf. Ask the business if they will accept this form or need you to fill out one of theirs.

Send the copies of the affidavit and supporting documents to the businesses (a separate form should be created for each account or institution responsible for providing the identity thief with credit). Do not send original bank or card statements. Blackout any information on the statements not related to the account.

Send a copy of each affidavit and the police report to the credit bureaus. Write a letter requesting the information you declared was a result of theft be blocked or removed from your credit report.

Report Stolen Mail
If you believe that your mail has been stolen you must contact the nearest Postal Inspector. You can look for the number in your white pages under Government Services, call 1-800-ASK-USPS or search online at http://www.usps.com/ncsc/locators/find-is.html.

While the information above is provided for those living in the US the steps are nearly the same in other countries. Here are some links and numbers to credit and police agencies in the UK, Canada and Australia.

 

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Contact Numbers for the UK, Canada and Australia