The Best Identity Theft Protection Services of 2023

You might not think twice as you use your favorite password on multiple websites, throw away an old credit card statement, or answer an unsolicited phone call from an unfamiliar company representative. However, any of these situations can make you a prime target for thieves wanting to steal your personal information. Unfortunately, seniors are particularly vulnerable to identity theft because they are typically less suspicious and have larger amounts of personal savings and home equity. To make matters worse, they are also unlikely to routinely double-check their financial transactions, so problems often go unnoticed. 

If these thieves can get your personal information, they may apply for credit cards or open up new loans in your name. Then, after they accrue massive debts, they fail to pay them back, leaving you with the bill and tanking credit. This type of theft is only becoming a bigger problem. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission received 2.8 million fraud reports totaling losses of over $5.8 billion, an increase of 70% from the year prior. 

Fortunately, identity theft protection services are available to help keep your information secure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and alert you to anything suspicious. In this guide, we’ll share the benefits offered by 9 of the best identity theft protection companies and walk you through how to choose the right service for you.

What Is an Identity Theft Protection Service?

Identity theft protection services are typically offered through companies that employ trained identity theft investigators. They regularly monitor the information most vulnerable to theft, such as your Social Security Number (SSN), your credit cards, and your online browsing activities. These experts know how to identify and stop theft quickly, as well as restore your identity if you become a victim of fraudulent activities.

These businesses work hard to address the newest threats by the most sophisticated criminals, and as technology and its accompanying risks change, so do their services. They continually expand their focus to address new areas of concern, such as social media monitoring for those who have an active online presence. 

How Identity Theft Protection Services Work

Identity theft protection services vary somewhat by company, but generally include:

• SSN and Financial Account Activity Oversight: Monitoring that alerts customers to other names or addresses associated with their identifying information and any attempts to take over or open new accounts.
• Credit Monitoring: Regular credit checks using data from one or more national credit reporting bureaus. These provide an overview of an individual’s credit history and include things like new loans, bankruptcy filings, and late payments. When a monitoring service detects one of these events, it alerts the customer, helping them catch any fraudulent activities early. 
• Dark Web Surveillance: Thousands of daily scans over hundreds of thousands of web pages to detect stolen information. These scans are particularly useful for those who do not have much familiarity with the “dark web.” 
• Insurance: A policy typically included in identity theft protection service plans to cover stolen funds and/or legal assistance. If, for some reason, someone using an identity theft protection service does fall victim to fraud, the insurance policy can cover lost funds and/or legal services. 

How We Chose the Best Identity Theft Protection Services

We evaluated 16 identity theft protection companies for the quality and scope of their services, and in consultation with experts, determined the top 9 companies with the best offerings. Only the companies that have the most comprehensive and dependable services at a great value based on our criteria are included in this review. The core metrics we used to make our assessments are outlined below.

• Low Costs: We selected companies that offer a wide range of service options at different price points. All companies have plans that fit different budgets, and most offer family plans to cover the whole family at a fixed rate. We also included companies that allow customers to pay only for the services they want, providing the best value based on their needs. 

• Varied Services: We chose companies that provide different types of services to ensure customers have the most comprehensive identity theft protection available. These may include monitoring credit cards, the dark web, social media, medical information, device security, and more. Included companies share a commitment to stay up-to-date with evolving service technology so your information remains protected.

• Family Plans Available: All but one of the companies we chose offer family plans. These plans either have unlimited service recipients, or include a specific number of protected children. Family plans often have special family-friendly services like SSN monitoring for children, a secure household VPN, and parental controls.

• Mobile App Access: We looked for companies with convenient mobile app access for the best customer service. Real-time mobile app alerts enable customers to catch identity theft faster, and in-app credit reports make it easier to stay informed. With the swipe of a finger, customers can also chat directly with support while on-the-go.

• Comprehensive Credit Monitoring: This guide only includes companies that offer credit monitoring – especially a more comprehensive three-bureau option. Some companies on our list are even owned by one of the three credit bureaus. In addition to monitoring, many of the companies we chose also provide credit simulators, credit reports, and other helpful tools to stay in-the-know when it comes to your credit.

• Identity Theft Insurance Included: All companies featured on this guide offer up to $1 million in identity theft insurance to cover the cost of lawyers, experts, and stolen funds. Some companies adjust the benefit amount depending on the customer’s chosen plan, and others offer the max $1 million coverage for all plans – regardless of protection level.
  
• Member Ratings and Reviews: We considered each company’s Better Business Bureau score and customer reviews. These take into account public complaints, as well as data from businesses and public sources. Ratings range from A+ to F, or an “NR” if not enough information is available, as well as an explanation of what raises or lowers business ratings. 

The 9 Best Identity Theft Protection Services

For a quick overview of our findings on the top 9 Identity Theft Protection Services in the U.S., view the table below.

This table is a general overview of the companies’ offerings and not representative of specific plans. The cost figures represent the lowest cost option in the stated category. Please refer to the review sections below and the companies’ websites for detailed plan comparison.

GoodTrust

Best for Secure Digital File Storage

While most well-known for its estate planning services, GoodTrust has recently partnered with two other companies to offer digital protection services to its customers. One of these companies is Dashlane, which provides password management and securely stores personal and payment information while utilizing bank-level security. The other is Cyberscout, a company with a specialty in identity and cyber monitoring as well as fraud remediation. In addition to these two companies’ services, GoodTrust provides its customers with yet further benefits. These include access to an encrypted GoodTrust Digital Vault where they can safely secure their documents, online account information, and device access details as well as share this information with trusted contacts. 

There are a total of two digital security plans that GoodTrust offers that combine Dashlane and Cyberscout services with GoodTrust digital vault access. However, the more expensive Premium plan is unique in that it also includes GoodTrust estate planning services and helps customers create critical documents such as a will and directives. In this way, customers can pay for one comprehensive plan that manages and protects their estate as well as their identity.   

GoodTrust Services and Costs

GoodTrust offers two digital security plans. Its Protect+ Plan combines access to a GoodTrust digital vault for storage of important account, document, and device information with services provided by Cyberscout and Dashlane. These additional services include password management for unlimited devices, credit monitoring, a secure VPN to ensure safe online browsing, and alerts when personal information appears on the dark web. $1 million in ID theft coverage is also included. GoodTrust’s second plan, the Premium plan, has all the same benefits and services as the Protect+ plan in addition to GoodTrust estate planning documents and personal consultations.  

Compare GoodTrust’s Service Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of GoodTrust Identity Theft Protection Services

IdentityForce

Most User-Friendly Website

IdentityForce is owned by TransUnion, which is one of the three major U.S. credit bureaus. With a 40+ year track record of providing excellent identity protection solutions, IdentityForce is known for consistently exceeding expectations. As an example of this, IdentityForce’s website is particularly well-designed and user-friendly, with detailed descriptions of all the features included in its identity theft protection plans. With its detailed explanation of features and topics like two-factor authentication, there is no need to search for information elsewhere or navigate between different websites. In this way, IdentityForce helps inform its customers and makes learning about identity theft protection and comparing plans easy and convenient.

IdentityForce Services and Costs

IdentityForce offers two identity theft protection plans: UltraSecure and UltraSecure + Credit. Both plans focus on four primary areas of service: monitor, control, alert and recover. The UltraSecure plan provides 24/7 monitoring of personal information, sends alerts if any data is compromised, and is backed with up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. It also includes helpful tools such as Secure My Network (VPN) and Smart Social Security Number Tracker. The UltraSecure + Credit plan takes service one step further by providing all the same benefits of the UltraSecure plan, plus three-bureau credit monitoring, reports, scores, and more.

Compare IdentityForce’s Service Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of IdentityForce

IDShield

Best Identity Theft Education and Resources

IDShield is owned by Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (PPLSI). Since 1972, the company has stood firm in its belief that privacy management is a universal right and should be accessible to all. To this end, IDShield focuses on providing dependable, innovative and affordable identity protection services. Its website offers a wealth of resources to members and visitors alike, including informational guides covering the types of identity theft, identity protection tips, and common security threats to individuals and companies. IDShield assigns a dedicated licensed private investigator to each fraud case so that members can walk through the process of restoring their identity with expert, one-on-one guidance.

Services and Costs

IDShield service packages are fairly straightforward and split into two categories: individual and family plans. Within those, customers have the option of choosing between one or three bureau packages for their credit monitoring and alerts. One-bureau monitoring is a great way to stay generally protected and keep monthly fees low, while three-bureau monitoring provides the most comprehensive protection against fraud.

IDShield focuses on full-service identity restoration with licensed private investigators that have access to exclusive databases to assist in recognizing and responding to threats. Additionally, the company offers members $1 million in lost expenses and legal fees due to a covered identity fraud event. To safeguard against malware infections and other device security threats, IDShield has also teamed up with Trend Micro for WiFi and VPN protection.

Compare IDShield’s Service Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of IDShield

LifeLock

Most Comprehensive Benefits

LifeLock is one of the many services from Norton, a long-time leader in the cyber security industry. Its goal is to empower families to feel safer in their everyday digital lives with products ranging from malware protection to password managers, and everything in between. In today’s digital age, it’s no surprise that many turn to Norton’s LifeLock identity protection services for dependable online and device security. Ad tracker blocker, SafeCam for Windows PC, privacy monitoring and anonymous browsing are just a few of the benefits that LifeLock members enjoy. Additionally, the company offers all the standard identity theft protections such as Social Security number alerts, credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, and insurance to cover the cost of lawyers and stolen funds if fraud occurs.

Services and Costs

LifeLock presents its services in two categories: basic identity theft protection and basic protection plus device security. The second category uses the Norton 360 antivirus and security software to provide robust online and device security benefits, like a secure VPN for household computers and smartphones, parental controls, and a virus protection promise. For both of these options, members can opt for individual, family (2 adults) or family (2 adults + up to 5 kids) plans. Narrowing down even further, LifeLock offers three plans to choose from. Its Standard/Select and Advantage plans provide one-bureau credit monitoring, and the Ultimate Plus plan offers three-bureau credit monitoring.

The Standard plan grants the most basic protection, with benefits such as Social Security number alerts and $25,000 in stolen funds reimbursement. The Advantage plan adds on more features, including a TransUnion Credit File Lock, phone monitoring, and $100,000 in stolen funds reimbursement. The Ultimate Plus plan delivers the highest level of protection, with $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement, home title monitoring, social media monitoring and more.

The following prices reflect LifeLock’s basic identity theft protection plans. Please consult the LifeLock website for cyber and device protection plan pricing.

Compare LifeLock’s Identity Theft Protection Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of LifeLock

PrivacyGuard

Most Flexible Identity Theft Protection Plans

PrivacyGuard has successfully protected millions of people nationwide over the last 30 years. The company is owned by Trilegiant Corporation, which is based in Stamford, Connecticut. In addition to PrivacyGuard, Trilegiant also owns and operates other membership-based services across many different industries, including entertainment and retail. With over 100 million members spanning all of Trilegiant’s services, it’s no surprise that PrivacyGuard has gained popularity as one of the best identity theft protection services. Unlike other companies, PrivacyGuard splits out identity and credit protection plans, which gives members unique flexibility to handpick the services that most benefit them.

Services and Costs

PrivacyGuard takes a unique approach to its services by offering separate identity and credit protection plans, in addition to a bundled combination option. Members appreciate the flexibility to pick and choose which areas of protection are most important to them, and as a result, PrivacyGuard is able to keep its prices a bit lower than some of its competitors.

The basic Identity Protection plan is one of the least expensive options across all companies we reviewed, but it does not shortchange members on services. This full-benefit plan focuses on basics like Social Security number and bank account monitoring, with additional perks like access to a dedicated ID fraud resolution agent and monthly status texts and emails.

PrivacyGuard’s Credit Protection plan provides monthly three-bureau credit score reporting and 24/7 daily credit monitoring. This plan is a great option for someone who is interested in a top-notch credit protection service, but does not need the additional identity theft monitoring.

For those that want the best of both worlds, PrivacyGuard’s Total Protection plan combines identity and credit surveillance to offer one comprehensive package. Additionally, this plan includes children’s Social Security number monitoring, medical record reimbursement and other benefits.

Compare PrivacyGuard’s Monthly Protection Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of PrivacyGuard

Identity IQ

Most Frequent Credit Reports

Identity IQ is a U.S. based company founded in 2009 that was acquired by Corsair Capital in December of 2020. In addition to Identity IQ, Corsair Capital also invests in other North American and European companies offering financial and business services.

Identity IQ is well known for its dedication to offering members frequent credit reports (up to 12 reports per year on select plans), which is a benefit that is not often offered by other companies on our list. Since suspicious credit report changes are one of the first red flags indicating that fraud has occurred, IdentityIQ focuses on giving members access to frequent credit checks as a first line of defense. However, the company doesn’t stop there. If identity theft occurs, members receive dedicated, U.S.-based case managers to deploy a customized plan of action against the fraud.

Services and Costs

Identity IQ offers eight identity protection plans. Its most basic option is the Secure Plan, which lacks credit reports and scores, but includes daily one-bureau credit report monitoring, dark web and internet monitoring, up to $1 million in stolen funds and lawyer reimbursement, and SSN alerts. Its three more comprehensive identity protection plans — Secure Plus, Secure Pro, and Secure Max -– all provide three-bureau credit reports and scores, although with varying frequencies. The Secure Max plan offers these monthly, while the Secure Pro plan gives them bi-annually, and the Secure Plus plan provides them on an annual basis.

Identity IQ also has Identity Protection + Bitdefender Total Security plans that have the same features as the Identity Protection Plans, but include additional online protection with premium VPN Services, anti-virus software, and more. 

Compare Identity IQ’s Protection Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of Identity IQ

Identity Guard

Best Identity Theft Insurance

Identity Guard has a long history of success, protecting over 38 million identities over the past two decades. In addition to being a long-standing company with a long track record, it ensures its services remain cutting-edge and are continually improved upon. With this goal in mind, Identity Guard joined forces with IBM Watson cognitive computing, one of the world’s most well-known artificial intelligence companies. This partnership has allowed it to continue to be among the best at threat detection, as well as offer excellent personalized customer support services. 

Identity Guard also sets itself apart with its generous identity theft insurance policies. While other companies on our list also offer $1 million in insurance coverage, it is only included as a part of their higher-end plans. In contrast, Identify Guard offers $1 million insurance coverage with reimbursement for eligible losses and financial damage as a part of every single one of its plans.

Services and Costs

Identity Guard has two types of plans: Individual Plans and Family Plans. These two types are broken up further into three levels. The first level is the Value plan, which offers basic identity protection. This includes access to a US-based Customer Care Team, data breach notifications, dark web monitoring, a safe browsing tool, high risk transaction monitoring, and $1 million identity theft insurance coverage.

The second level, the Total Plan, offers standard identity and credit protection. This not only includes everything from the Value plan, but also adds bank account monitoring, a one-bureau monthly credit score, and three-bureau credit monitoring to its list of provided services.

Finally, the third level, or the Ultra Plan, gives customers premium identity and credit protection services.This means customers will not only receive the services from the first two plans, but will also have access to social media insights reporting, 401k and investment account monitoring, home title monitoring, and a three- bureau annual credit report. The Family Plan version of the Ultra plan extends coverage not only to four adults, but to an unlimited number of children, which is very uncommon.    

Compare Identity Guard’s Protection Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of Identity Guard

Experian

Best for Credit Monitoring 

Experian is one of the three main credit reporting bureaus, with roots reaching back over 100 years. Its 20,000 employees in 44 countries help customers around the world have the information they need to make informed financial decisions. Its areas of expertise are varied, and include market insight, vehicle identities, customer insight, credit risk, application processing, fraud detection, and debt management. Since the company has such a strong reputation for providing reliable data, it’s no surprise that its identity protection program has exceptional credit services. All plans come with a wide variety of such services, including:

• Free Experian credit reports and FICO scores
• Experian credit monitoring and alerts
• FICO Score Tracker access
• FICO Score Monitoring

Services and Costs

Experian offers three main plans: IdentityWorks Basic, IdentityWorks Premium, and IdentityWorks Family. Its Basic Plan includes a free Experian credit report and FICO Score, Experian credit monitoring and alerts, and FICO Score tracking and monitoring. The Premium Plan includes these same features in addition to advanced identity theft services including 3-bureau credit monitoring, financial takeover alerts, and identity validation alerts. The Premium Plan also provides those it covers with up to $1 million dollars in identity theft insurance as well as access to dedicated fraud resolution assistance. Experian’s Family Plan includes everything in its Premium Plan, but extends coverage to an additional adult as well as provides identity monitoring for up to 10 children. 

Compare Experian’s Protection Plan Costs

*Applicable sales tax may be added to these base prices.

Pros and Cons of Experian

ReliaShield

Most Affordable Family Plans

ReliaShield is a company with strong core values and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. ReliaShield puts its customers first, with its U.S.-based team of experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide support for its comprehensive identity theft protection services. It also prides itself on offering these at the very best value. It will not charge customers for things they don’t need or change payment plans following the first year of service. 

In addition to this, ReliaShield has among the best family plan options of the companies we reviewed. While others have limits on the number of included children, ReliaShield plans include two adults in their coverage and also provide free protection to every child under the age of 18 who lives in the same household.  

Services and Costs

ReliaShield services are split into plans for individuals and plans for families. Within each of these two categories, there are 3 plan options: ReliaShield Essential, ReliaShield Prime, and ReliaShield Elite. The Essential plan covers all types of identity theft, including SSN and dark web monitoring. However, credit monitoring is not offered under this most basic plan. The more advanced Prime plan provides all the same services, but adds on extras like one-bureau credit monitoring through Experian, social media monitoring, and neighborhood predator monitoring. The Elite plan is the most comprehensive of all and offers three-bureau credit monitoring, a monthly credit score tracker, and special alerts to notify members when a new credit card or bank account application contains their personal information.

Compare ReliaShield’s Protection Plan Costs

Pros and Cons of ReliaShield

Tips to Avoid Identity Theft

There are many steps you can take to reduce the chance that someone will steal your identity. If you properly store and dispose of official documents and only use a secure connection or a VPN, this makes it harder to access your personal information. Individuals who are aware of their surroundings, have a healthy distrust of strange phone calls or emails, and double-check their bank account activity and credit information are also less likely to have their identity stolen. Read on for more tips to avoid identity theft.

Safeguard Your Personal Information

Any document with personal information, such as a passport or social security card, should be locked and stored in a safe place. Remember to pick up your mail so it is not left sitting in your mailbox, and shred old bills or other important documents before throwing them away. Also, be aware of what you may be sharing with others over the internet and never use an unsecured wireless connection. Instead, use a VPN or a password-protected and secure connection.

Remain Diligent 

If you remain aware of what is going on around you, you should be able to spot criminals as they attempt to steal information. Always keep your head up and eyes open when doing anything involving important personal information – especially on devices like laptops and cell phones. Did you notice that someone was close to you as you used an ATM, attempting to see the numbers you were entering, or looking over your shoulder at your computer screen? These are reasons for concern that could be missed if you aren’t paying attention. 

Question Suspicious Emails and Phone Calls

You may receive a call from a company that claims to need your Social Security number, or an email asking for your login information. Never respond to these types of requests with this information. Instead, contact companies later to ensure that these phone calls or emails actually originated from them and not from scammers trying to steal and use your identity. 

Proactively Monitor Your Accounts

Make sure you have easy access to your bank accounts, and check their activity daily. Always take your time to be thorough and keep an eye open for any suspicious activity. It’s also a good idea to look over your credit report at least once annually to make sure there is nothing unexpected included in your credit history. 

Why You Should Use an Identity Theft Protection Service

The faster you can identify and stop identity theft, the better. Identity protection services offer continual monitoring of your personal information, both day and night, to quickly catch fraudulent activity. They also help you recover if your identity does become stolen by covering lost funds and/or legal fees and providing you with priceless peace of mind. 

Protect Yourself in a Digital Age

In this day and age, everything is done online, from shopping and banking to storing personal photos, videos, and documents. As a result, online protection is no longer an option — it’s a must. While dark web activity increases, cybercriminals are getting better at what they do, and stolen data is spreading increasingly faster. Fortunately, identity theft services can protect you from cybercriminals by monitoring the dark web and checking for any stolen information. Some plans also include a VPN for customers to use, preventing thieves from accessing their personal data over a less secure wireless connection.

Know About Identity Theft Faster

None of the services provided by identity theft protection companies can prevent fraud from occurring. They can, however, help you identify fraud soon after it takes place. This allows you to address the problem quickly before it becomes a larger issue. Features such as a mobile app, 24/7 monitoring, and credit reports allow customers to become aware of problems no matter where they are or what time it is and address them in a timely manner.

Save Money

Identity theft can become expensive quickly. As a victim, you may be stuck needing to replace the stolen funds or pay hefty fees to experts and lawyers for legal advice and/or representation. Both of these repercussions will likely far outweigh the costs of identity protection services.

Enjoy Peace of Mind

You can’t have eyes and ears everywhere, and you also can’t live in constant fear of what might happen. These services give you peace of mind that someone who is a trained expert in the field and knows exactly what to look for is watching your most valuable information when you can’t.

How to Choose an Identity Theft Protection Service

There are many companies to choose from for identity theft protection services. Narrow down your options by comparing prices, trying services during free trials, and deciding which features best fit your lifestyle and unique needs. Consider our four main criteria below when evaluating identity theft protection services. 

Step 1: Compare Pricing and Ask About Free Trials

Know your budget and compare prices between different companies, as well the services you get for that price. Ask if companies offer discounts if you pay for a full year of services in advance or if you use autopay to make scheduled payments. Some companies may also offer free trials. There is no better way to see what company provides the best services for your needs than testing several out before committing to a specific plan. However, if you decide that a company is not the right fit, remember to cancel before your free trial is over. Failing to do so may mean that you will be charged for additional services. 

Step 2: Check Identity Theft Insurance Coverage

Identity theft insurance makes sure you are not stuck footing the bill if someone has accumulated massive debt under your name. However, not all levels of coverage are equal, though the amount offered by most companies is typically $1 million. Make sure that whatever company you choose to use provides you with enough identity theft insurance so that you feel well protected.

Step 3: Ensure You Get Comprehensive Credit Monitoring

Identity theft protection services may include either one-bureau or three-bureau credit monitoring. You will get a much more comprehensive look at your overall credit activity when monitoring includes your credit reports from all three bureaus. Keep in mind that fraud may not appear on each report at the same time and could be missed if they are not monitored together.  

Step 4: Decide on What Type of Plan You Need and Compare Options

Before making a commitment, it’s best to know what services are most important to you. If you spend a lot of time online, you may want to prioritize a plan that has extensive dark web scanning. If you often have complex financial transactions, you may need a plan that offers frequent three-bureau credit monitoring and reporting. 

You will also need to decide if you want an individual plan or a family plan that extends coverage to your children. Some companies place limits on the number of children that may be included under one plan, while others allow an unlimited number of children. Determine the level of protection you expect for your children, since some family plans offer services designed specifically to protect minors’ identities.

What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed

The National Council on Aging reports that seniors lose more than $3 billion to fraudsters each year. Scammers may impersonate representatives from government agencies, grandchildren in crisis, or sweepstakes or lottery employees. They may even trick seniors with online messages that their device is compromised and access and/or payments are required to fix it. 

Once they have a target’s personal information, fraudsters may commit identity theft and open up credit card accounts or apply for loans in the senior’s name. They may then disappear and leave the senior with the responsibility of paying large amounts of accumulated debt. If a senior has sent them money, they may take it and fail to deliver what they promised to provide in return. 

If you have become a victim of these types of scams, know that you are not alone. While you may feel like it’s “too late” to do anything if you’ve been scammed, there are things you can do to prevent the scammer from getting further access to your assets and protect yourself in the future. Follow the steps below to protect your finances and prevent further fraud from occurring.

Step #1: Stop Communicating, But Keep Records

If still in contact with a scammer, stop communicating with them right away.

• Do not answer the scammer’s calls or reply to any electronic or written messages or letters.
• Do not send them more money or believe them when they promise to return lost funds.
• Remember that any personal information you continue to provide can be used for further theft and any more money you give them may never be recovered.

However, make sure not to delete or throw anything away in an effort to document what happened. This will be critical for reporting the fraud to authorities.

Step #2: Secure Your Financial Assets

Contact your bank to let them know that a credit card, debit card, or bank account may have been illegally used or accessed. It is possible, but not guaranteed, that your financial institution may be able to cancel or reverse transactions made by fraudsters. Continue to monitor your statements to look for any unauthorized transactions.

Step #3: Protect Your Credit and Review Credit Reports

Inform the three major credit bureaus listed below that you may have been a victim of fraud and/or had your identity stolen.

• Equifax can be reached at 800-525-6285
• Experian can be reached at 888-397-3742
• TransUnion can be reached at 800-680-7289

Request a free credit report from each credit bureau. Correct errors, close any unauthorized accounts that are listed, and let the bureau know you did not open them.

• These credit bureaus can add a fraud alert that lets lenders know your identity may have been stolen. If you place a fraud alert with one bureau, it should notify the other two.
• Lenders must then verify your identity before issuing new credit.
• This alert lasts for a year and is renewable.

An optional security freeze can also prevent lenders from accessing your report to extend credit.

• This is free and will not impact your credit.
• Each reporting agency has its own security freeze requirements.
• Continue to monitor your credit score for changes.

Step #4: Secure Your Devices 

If you were scammed through your computer, install or update antivirus software if you do not already have a current version of antivirus running. If you need help with ensuring there are no viruses on your computer, consult an IT professional for assistance.

Step #5: Protect Your Online Accounts

• Change your passwords for your bank accounts, credit card, and debit card.
• Update your social media and email account passwords, and do not use the same or similar passwords for different accounts.
• Follow these guidelines so that your new passwords are difficult for a fraudster to guess.  
• If a scammer has hacked your online accounts, follow these steps to restore access.

Step #6: Report the Fraud or Scam to Authorities

• Filing a report can help authorities take legal action against perpetrators of scams; however, agencies won’t follow up with victims or help them recoup their lost money.
• Reporting fraud helps protect others. 

Step #7: Consider Purchasing Protection

• Fraud protection companies can monitor your credit reports, financial accounts, and SSN for suspicious activity.
• These companies usually provide identity theft insurance to cover lawyer fees and/or stolen funds.
• A professional agency can restore your peace of mind after you’ve been the victim of a scam.

How to Report a Scam 

While reporting a scam probably won’t get your money returned to you, it can help law enforcement agencies build a case against those responsible to hold them accountable in the future. It may also prevent others from becoming victims. The type of fraud dictates which agency you should notify, as explained in the following table. However, all victims of fraud should report it to their state consumer protection office, as well as to any applicable agencies listed below.  

Frequently Asked Questions