Identity (ID) Theft Protection - Bank of America Privacy & Security

Protect yourself against identity theft

ID theft occurs when someone gains access to your personal information such as name, date of birth and Social Security number (SSN), and uses that information to commit fraudulent acts.

Know the warning signs of ID theft so you can act right away:

You notice unauthorized activity on your bank account or new accounts on your credit report.
You receive unexpected letters and calls from debt collectors about loans or other debt that you don’t owe.
You’re notified by the IRS that there’s a possible issue with your tax return, or that your return was previously filed in your name.
You’re alerted that your account was accessed from a new device you don’t recognize.
You’re billed for medical services you didn’t receive.
You no longer receive bills and bank statements in the mail.
You’re unexpectedly denied credit.

Taking these steps will help you reduce your risk of ID theft:

1. Keep your personal information secure

Never give out your personal information via email, text or to an unsolicited caller.
Switch to paperless statements. See how to go paperless
Shred any documents, such as tax forms, bank statements and medical bills that contain sensitive information.
Avoid carrying your Social Security Number in your wallet and give it out only when necessary.
Don’t overshare on social media, and use privacy controls so that personal information is not made public.
Discuss internet safety with your children, and prevent them from sharing information online without your permission.

2. Protect your devices

Keep all of your devices updated with the latest security patches and software.
Secure your devices and home Wi-Fi network with a unique password of at least eight characters.
Enable biometrics such as fingerprint sign-on, retina/facial recognition where available.

3. Control access to your accounts

Create a strong password for each of your accounts, and never reuse the same password on multiple websites.
Use multifactor authentication to add an extra layer of protection when signing in to your accounts.
Activate account alerts to help you monitor your finances and keep your accounts safe. See how to manage your alerts
Make sure your phone number and email address are up to date on your financial accounts.

Act quickly if you become a victim of ID theft

For steps you can take right away, see What to Do if You've Become a Victim of ID Theft on our Report Suspicious Activity page.

Victim of ID Theft: Here are some additional steps to take action

ID theft can be stressful, but there are immediate steps you can take to minimize any long-term effects it may have on your finances.

Watch this video to learn more—and see what to do if you’re a victim.

Visit Better Money Habits for more about ID theft

Identity theft isn't just

a case of account
fraud where someone

steals your credit
card information.

When your identity
is stolen,

the criminal can use your
Social Security number

to get a job, rent an apartment
or even take out a loan.

And do it all in your name.

In some cases, criminals
are even filing tax returns

in victim's names and taking
their tax refunds.

A victim of identity
theft could go months

before they even notice
that something strange is going on.

The tip off could be
a past due notice in the mail

or a phone call from
a collection agency

about debt that isn't theirs.

By that point a lot of damage
could have been done.

If you notice something wrong,

the most important thing
is to act quickly.

Identity theft is becoming pretty common,

but it's still a hard crime
for authorities to track.

So most victims have
to be very proactive

in getting their identity
back under their control.

Think about it this way,
you're going to be

your own best detective on the case.

So let's go through the steps
you'll need to take

to get your finances and
credit back under your control.

The first step to take as soon
as you suspect identity theft

is to file what's called
an initial fraud alert

with a credit reporting agency.

Businesses have to
check your credit report

to open new lines of credit.

So if they see there's a
fraud alert on your report,

they may try to contact
you to verify your identity

before doing so, which
would make it harder

for a criminal to open a
new account in your name.

To file an alert, you can call

one of the three major
credit reporting agencies,

Experian, Equifax or TransUnion,
and tell a representative

that you are an identity theft victim

and want to place an initial
fraud alert on your file.

It actually doesn't
matter which one you call

because whichever one you choose

is required to notify the other two.

It's free and the alert will stay

on your account for 90 days.

For even more protection you might also

want to put a credit freeze on file

with all three credit reporting agencies.

A credit freeze means that no creditors

like a bank or a business
that offers store credit cards

can look at your report
without your permission.

This can make it harder for a criminal

to open a new account in your name.

You can lift a credit freeze at any time

or lift it temporarily
so someone you authorize

can look at your report.

In most states, setting up a credit freeze

is often free for
victims of identity theft

or there may be a small fee, $10 or so.

The length of a freeze
also varies by state.

You can visit your
state's attorney general's

office website for more details.

To request a credit freeze
you'll need to contact

each of the three credit
reporting agencies.

After you've set up an
initial fraud report

and put a credit freeze on file as well,

the next step is to start going
through your credit reports.

Your initial fraud report allows you

to get free access to your credit reports

from the three credit reporting agencies.

Contact each one for instructions

on how to get a copy of your report.

You can also do this when you
set up your credit freeze.

Look over each report carefully

and note any detail that isn't yours.

Then before you dig into
the problems you may find,

you'll want to file an
identity theft report

to let Federal and Local
authorities know about the crime.

The report will help
you get fraudulent info

removed from your credit report

and can stop businesses
and collections agencies

from coming after you for
debts that aren't yours.

Filing an identity theft
report is a two-part process.

First you can file a report

with the Federal Trade Commission.

That's the government agency
that looks out for consumers

and helps protect them from fraud.

You can do this online at
FTCComplaintAssistant.gov.

Once you complete the report online,

you'll get an FTC identity theft affidavit

which you can print for your records.

Then you'll need to file a police report.

You can do this in person at
your local police precinct

or you may be able to do this online.

It's a good idea to call ahead

and see what kind of documents
you'll need to bring with you

to the station to prove your identity

and complete the report.

Once you make your report,

ask for a copy and record the police report number.

Your FTC Identity theft
affidavit and your police report

together make a complete identity theft report.

Now that you are armed with
your identity theft report,

you're ready to take on each fraudulent item

you found in your credit report.

For each fraud, you'll need to file a dispute

with the fraud department of
each credit reporting agency

and contact any lenders or
collection agencies involved.

This part of the process can
mean a lot of phone calls,

and in some cases it
can take a lot of time.

It's a good idea to keep a written record

of each call you make,
noting the date and time

as well as the name of
each person you speak with

and any instructions they give you

so you can take the next steps.

The FTC also has many helpful resources

for this part of the process,

like check lists and instructions

for how to dispute
different claims at FTC.gov.

At this point you can also
place an extended fraud alert

on file with each of the
credit reporting agencies.

An extended fraud alert is
free and lasts for seven years.

It will allow you to get two free copies

of your credit report each year

so you can keep on top of
any new suspicious activity.

And one more thing.

There are more credit reporting agencies

than just the big three.

There are also many smaller
local or regional ones

that could have reports of
other fraudulent activity

in your name.

So it's a good idea to
check your local listings

for other agencies and file
fraud alerts with them as well.

Getting your life and
your credit score back

after identity theft can be a challenge.

Guarding your personal
information carefully,

especially your social security number,

can help you avoid identity
theft in the future.

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View transcript

[Visual with Identity theft victims: 5 steps to take action]

Identity theft isn’t just a case of account fraud where someone steals your credit card information.

When your identity is stolen, the criminal can use your Social Security number to get a job, rent an apartment, or even take out a loan. And do it all in your name.

In some cases, criminals are even filing tax returns in victim’s names and taking their tax refunds.

A victim of identity theft could go months before they even notice that something strange is going on. The tip off could be a past due notice in the mail or a phone call from a collection agency about debt that isn’t theirs. By that point a lot of damage could have been done.

If you notice something wrong, the most important thing is to act quickly. Identity theft is becoming pretty common, but it’s still a hard crime for authorities to track.

So most victims have to be very proactive in getting their identity back under their control. Think about it this way, you’re going to be your own best detective on the case.

[Visual with 5 steps to take in case of being victim of ID theft:

Step 1: File an initial fraud alert

Step 2: Initiate a credit freeze

Step 3: File an identity theft report

Step 4: Contact credit bureaus and businesses

Step 5: Place an extended fraud alert]

So let’s go through the steps you’ll need to take to get your finances and credit back under your control. The first step to take as soon as you suspect identity theft is to file what’s called an initial fraud alert with a credit reporting agency.

Businesses have to check your credit report to open new lines of credit. So if they see there’s a fraud alert on your report, they may try to contact you to verify your identity before doing so, which would make it harder for a criminal to open a new account in your name. To file an alert, you can call one of the three major credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax or TransUnion and tell a representative that you are an identity theft victim and want to place an initial fraud alert on your file. It actually doesn’t matter which one you call because whichever one you choose is required to notify the other two. It’s free and the alert will stay on your account for 90 days.

For even more protection you might also want to put a credit freeze on file with all three credit reporting agencies.

[Visual with Step 2: Initiate a credit freeze]

A credit freeze means that no creditors like a bank or a business that offers store credit cards can look at your report without your permission. This can make it harder for a criminal to open a new account in your name. You can lift a credit freeze at any time or lift it temporarily so someone you authorize can look at your report.

In most states, setting up a credit freeze is often free for victims of identity theft or there may be a small fee, $10 or so. The length of a freeze also varies by state. You can visit your state’s attorney general’s office website for more details. To request a credit freeze you’ll need to contact each of the three credit reporting agencies.

[Visual showing three reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion]

After you’ve set up an initial fraud report and put a credit freeze on file as well, the next step is to start going through your credit reports. Your initial fraud report allows you to get free access to your credit reports from the three credit reporting agencies. Contact each one for instructions on how to get a copy of your report.

You can also do this when you set up your credit freeze. Look over each report carefully and note any detail that isn’t yours. Then before you dig into the problems you may find, you’ll want to file an identity theft report to let Federal and Local authorities know about the crime.

[Visual with Step 3: File an identity theft report]

The report will help you get fraudulent info removed from your credit report and can stop businesses and collections agencies from coming after you for debts that aren’t yours.

Filing an identity theft report is a two-part process. First you can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission. That’s the government agency that looks out for consumers and helps protect them from fraud. You can do this online at FTCComplaintAssistant.gov.

Once you complete the report online, you’ll get an FTC identity theft affidavit which you can print for your records. Then you’ll need to file a police report. You can do this in person at your local police precinct or you may be able to do this online. It’s a good idea to call ahead and see what kind of documents you’ll need to bring with you to the station to prove your identity and complete the report.

Once you make your report, ask for a copy and record the police report number. Your FTC Identity theft affidavit and your police report together make a complete identity theft report. Now that you are armed with your identity theft report, you’re ready to take on each fraudulent item you found in your credit report.

[Visual with Step 4: Contact credit bureaus and businesses]

For each fraud, you’ll need to file a dispute with the fraud department of each credit reporting agency and contact any lenders or collection agencies involved. This part of the process can mean a lot of phone calls, and in some cases it can take a lot of time.

It’s a good idea to keep a written record of each call you make, noting the date and time as well as the name of each person you speak with and any instructions they give you so you can take the next steps.

The FTC also has many helpful resources for this part of the process, like check lists and instructions for how to dispute different claims at FTC.gov.

At this point you can also place an extended fraud alert on file with each of the credit reporting agencies.

[Visual with names of the three credit reporting agencies: Step 5: Place an extended fraud alert]

An extended fraud alert is free and lasts for 7 years. It will allow you to get two free copies of your credit report each year so you can keep on top of any new suspicious activity.

And one more thing. There are more credit reporting agencies than just the big three. There are also many smaller local or regional ones that could have reports of other fraudulent activity in your name. So it’s a good idea to check your local listings for other agencies and file fraud alerts with them as well.

Getting your life and your credit score back after identity theft can be a challenge. Guarding your personal information carefully, especially your social security number, can help you avoid identity theft in the future.

Better Money Habits

The material provided on this video is for informational use only and is not intended for financial or investment advice. Bank of America and/ or its affiliates assume no liability for any loss or damages resulting from one's reliance on the material provided. Please also note that such material is not updated regularly and that some of the information may not therefore be current. Consult with your own financial professional when making decisions regarding your financial or investment management. © 2019 Bank of America Corporation.

Knowledge is a powerful defense against fraud and we’re here to help you stay informed. Want to learn more? Here are additional resources we think you may find helpful and want to explore.

Protect yourself against identity theft

Protect yourself against identity theft