Photo: Kelly Sikkema / UnsplashRecovering from identity theft
- Debt and bankruptcy
Identity Theft Recovery Plan: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
A step-by-step identity theft recovery plan: freezing credit, reporting to the FTC, disputing accounts, police reports, tax and medical identity theft and how to track progress.
4 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Identity Theft: What to Do Right Away
Step-by-step actions if your identity is stolen, including fraud alerts, credit freezes and reporting to the FTC.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert: Which Should You Use?
How credit freezes and fraud alerts work, the differences, how to place them for free and how to lift or renew them.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Tax Identity Theft: What to Do If Someone Filed a Return in Your Name
How to recognize tax-related identity theft, report it to the IRS, protect your account and prevent repeat fraud.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, how to find mistakes and the steps to dispute them with the bureaus and lenders.
2 min read
Card, bank and online fraud
- Debt and bankruptcy
Credit Card and Bank Fraud: Your Liability and How to Dispute Unauthorized Charges
How liability works for unauthorized credit card and debit card charges, timelines for reporting, how to dispute, provisional credit, wire and Zelle scams and what banks must do.
3 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Online Scams and Romance Fraud: Reporting, Recovering Money and Avoiding Recovery Scams
What to do after an online scam: where to report, whether money can be recovered, romance and investment fraud, payment methods, recovery scams and how to protect yourself.
3 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
What to Do If You Were Scammed: Report, Recover and Protect Yourself
Steps to take after falling for a scam, who to contact, whether you can get money back and how to protect your accounts.
2 min read - Courts and claims
Online Shopping Problems: Fake Stores, Missing Orders and Refunds
Your rights when an online order never arrives, you are charged without receiving goods or you suspect a fake site, and how to get your money back.
2 min read - Debt and bankruptcy
Foreclosure Rescue Scams: Warning Signs and Safer Options
How foreclosure rescue and deed theft scams work, red flags to watch for and where to find legitimate housing counseling.
2 min read
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first after identity theft?
Freeze your credit, secure your accounts and report at IdentityTheft.gov.
Is a credit freeze free?
Yes, at all three bureaus.
Am I responsible for fraudulent charges?
Federal law limits liability, especially for credit cards, if you report promptly.
Can I recover money lost to a scam?
Sometimes, depending on how you paid and how fast you reported.
Should I hire a recovery service?
Usually not, since the main steps are free.