If you suspect that someone has used your personal information fraudulently, there are several steps you should take. First, place a fraud alert with any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies to make sure that no further accounts are opened in your name. Regardless of whether you've obtained your annual free credit report, placing a fraud alert entitles you to a credit report free of charge. Review this carefully and request that any incorrect information be investigated or removed. Be sure to close any accounts that you believe to be fraudulent.
Call the police. While they may not be able to help you directly, it's an important step to show creditors that some of the accounts opened in your name are, indeed, fraudulent. It's critical to keep an accurate record of all matters regarding the suspected fraud — even keep track of how much time you spend dealing with the issue in case of a future lawsuit.
Finally, with Equifax subscription products, you can customize your alerts to make sure you know about key changes to your credit files within 24 hours of when they occur! This way, if you happen to be a victim of Internet fraud, the matter can be quickly resolved — putting you back in control of your financial health.