What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen
✓ If your identity was stolen, act fast to secure accounts, freeze credit, and report fraud.
✓ These top-rated companies provide identity theft services and teams of highly skilled fraud specialists who work around the clock to recover your identity, help reimburse stolen funds, and cover eligible legal expenses.
✓ Follow these steps to stop new damage, recover faster, and protect yourself from repeat attacks.
What To Do If Your Identity Was Stolen
Step 1: Secure Your Accounts Immediately
Change passwords for your email, bank, and any account tied to payments. Turn on multi-factor authentication, sign out of other devices, and update security questions so attackers can’t get back in.
Step 2: Freeze Your Credit And Add A Fraud Alert
Place a fraud alert to force extra verification on new credit requests. Then freeze your credit to help block new accounts from being opened in your name.
Step 3: Check Your Credit Reports For Red Flags
Look for unfamiliar accounts, hard inquiries, address changes, or late payments you don’t recognize. Save screenshots or PDFs of anything suspicious for your records.
Step 4: Contact Companies Where Fraud Happened
Call the bank, lender, or merchant involved. Dispute unauthorized charges, close or secure compromised accounts, and ask for written confirmation of what they corrected.
Step 5: Report The Identity Theft
File an identity theft report with the appropriate official reporting portal for your country. If a police report is required by creditors or the losses are significant, file one and keep the case number.
Step 6: Document Everything In One Place
Track dates, names, phone numbers, case IDs, and outcomes of every call or email. Keeping clean records makes disputes and recovery dramatically easier.
Step 7: Monitor And Follow Up
Set account and credit alerts, review statements closely, and re-check your credit reports over the next several weeks to confirm no new fraudulent activity appears.
- Quick Tip: Start with your email account first—if it’s compromised, everything else is easier to take over.
- Keep Proof: Save screenshots, letters, and reference numbers for every dispute.
- Stay Vigilant: Identity theft can resurface—monitor for repeat attempts.
What is Identity Theft Protection and How Does it Work?
Identity theft protection is a service that helps safeguard your personal information, such as your Social Security number and bank details, from being stolen and misused by fraudsters. It works by monitoring your accounts for suspicious activity, alerting you to potential threats, and providing assistance to recover stolen identity and finances. See our top picks above for the best identity theft protection companies that offer top-rated identity protection, the best personal information protection services, and the best social security protection.
Best Credit Monitoring Services and Best Credit Protection Services
Need credit protection and identity protection services? The best credit monitoring service and ID theft protection monitors your credit reports and scores, alerting you to any changes or suspicious activity, like new accounts or hard inquiries. They work by continuously tracking your credit data from major credit bureaus and sending you real-time alerts to help prevent identity theft and fraud. These services also provide credit card protection.
How to Lock Your Credit?
To lock your credit through an identity theft protection company, first sign up for their service and access your account online or via their app. Navigate to the credit lock feature and activate it with a simple click or tap. This credit lock feature makes your credit inaccessible to potential fraudsters while keeping it easy for you to unlock when needed.
Aura Identity Theft Protection
About Aura Identity Theft Protection
Aura is a digital security service that helps individuals and families protect their identities, financial information, and online privacy through proactive monitoring and alerts. The platform combines identity and credit monitoring with fraud detection and recovery support, along with built-in privacy and security tools designed to reduce everyday online risk. Eligible plans include insurance coverage and guided restoration services, helping users respond quickly and confidently if identity theft occurs.
- Credit Monitoring
- Tracks activity across all three credit bureaus and alerts you to score changes, new inquiries, or suspicious credit behavior.
- Account Monitoring
- Watches linked bank and credit accounts for unusual activity that could indicate fraud.
- Fraud Alerts
- Notifies you in real time if your personal or financial information is being misused, so you can act immediately.
- Dark Web Scan
- Monitors breach databases and the dark web for exposed personal data and alerts you if it’s found.
- Device Security
- Protects your devices from malware, spyware, and other threats that could compromise your data.
- VPN Protection
- Encrypts your internet connection to keep your personal information secure, especially on public Wi-Fi.
- Spam Blocking
- Helps reduce scam calls, phishing attempts, and junk mail that put your identity at risk.
- Public Records
- Monitors key public records for unauthorized changes tied to your identity.
- Data Removal
- Helps remove your personal information from data broker and people-search sites.
- Fraud Resolution
- Provides expert, hands-on support to restore your identity and resolve fraud with institutions on your behalf.
- Identity Insurance
- Includes up to $1M in identity theft insurance per adult to help cover eligible recovery costs.
Plans & Pricing
Aura offers tiered subscription plans with pricing that starts at approximately $9 per month for individual coverage. Couple plans start at around $17 per month, while family plans start at about $25 per month. Pricing and plan availability may vary and are subject to change.
LifeLock Identity Theft Protection
About LifeLock by Norton Identity Theft Protection
LifeLock is an identity theft protection service designed to help individuals and families monitor, detect, and respond to identity-related threats. The service focuses on tracking the use of personal information, such as Social Security numbers and financial details, and alerting users to potential signs of fraud. If identity theft occurs, LifeLock provides access to U.S.-based restoration specialists and reimbursement coverage with eligible plans.
- Identity Fraud Alerts
- Notifies you if your Social Security number, name, or personal info is used fraudulently to open accounts or access services.
- Credit Monitoring
- Tracks changes to your credit file with alerts for new credit inquiries, accounts, or unusual activity.
- Account Activity Alerts
- Monitors bank, credit card, and other financial accounts for unusual transactions like withdrawals, transfers, or large purchases.
- Dark Web Monitoring
- Continuously scans hidden online marketplaces and forums to detect if your sensitive information appears where it shouldn’t.
- Home Title Monitoring
- Keeps an eye on property records and home titles to alert you to unauthorized changes or liens on your real estate.
- Social Media Monitoring
- Monitors social accounts for compromise indicators and alerts if suspicious activities appear.
- Privacy Monitoring
- Scans popular data broker and public sites where your personal info is listed so you can request opt-outs and reduce exposure.
- Million Dollar Protection
- Includes reimbursement for stolen funds, personal expenses, and access to lawyers and experts to help restore your identity (limits vary by tier).
- Restoration Support
- U.S.-based identity restoration specialists help manage recovery, working with institutions on your behalf if identity theft strikes.
Plans & Pricing
LifeLock offers multiple subscription tiers with pricing that starts at approximately $12 per month or about $120 per year for entry-level coverage when billed annually. Mid-tier plans generally start around $20 per month or roughly $240 per year, while top-tier plans begin at about $35 per month or approximately $420 per year with annual billing. Pricing, features, and availability may vary by plan and are subject to change.