The legal framework
Federal law makes identity theft a crime in its own right, and aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive sentence. The Federal Trade Commission's IdentityTheft.gov generates a personal recovery plan and an Identity Theft Report, which unlocks statutory rights: blocking fraudulent information on your credit report, obtaining documents about accounts opened in your name, and stopping debt collection.
Key points
| Federal offences | 18 U.S.C. 1028 and 1028A, aggravated identity theft carrying a mandatory added sentence |
|---|---|
| Recovery plan | IdentityTheft.gov produces the plan and the Identity Theft Report |
| Credit freeze | Free at all three bureaus under federal law, and free to lift |
| Fraud alert | One year, extendable to seven with an Identity Theft Report |
| Blocking | Bureaus must block fraudulent entries within four business days of a valid report |
| Free reports | Weekly free credit reports through the official site |
| Identity Theft Report | Unlocks statutory blocking, document access and collection protections |
| Four business days | Bureaus must block fraudulent information after a valid report |
| IRS IP PIN | Prevents fraudulent tax filings in your name |
In practice
- Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — it is free and it stops most new-account fraud.
- File the report at IdentityTheft.gov and print the Identity Theft Report.
- Send the report to every bureau and creditor, by certified mail, and keep proof of posting.
- If a tax return was filed in your name, contact the IRS Identity Protection unit and request an IP PIN.
- Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN: it stops tax refund fraud outright.
Where to go
- IdentityTheft.gov, run by the Federal Trade Commission.
- AnnualCreditReport.com for free reports.
- IRS Identity Theft Protection Specialized Unit.
Worth knowing
The credit freeze is the single most effective step and it is free by law. Do it before anything else; you can lift it temporarily whenever you need credit. The Identity Theft Report is the key that unlocks every other federal right. Generate it before contacting creditors, not afterwards.
Official sources and links
- USA.gov — official guide to government services
- Congress.gov — federal legislation