Fraud and identity theft.
How to deal with fraud and identity theft.
Take these steps if you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft or financial fraud.
1. Report account fraud to your financial institution.
Call our fraud hotline at
1-833-226-1520 if you think your Ally account has been compromised. We’re here to help 24/7.
2. Place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Call Equifax, Experian or TransUnion to report any identitiy theft incidents so they can place a fraud alert on your credit report. You only need to contact one – the credit bureau you call is required to contact the other two. Additionally, consider freezing your credit for extra security but keep in mind, you’ll need to contact all three credit bureaus if you decide to.
Know that when you place a fraud alert on your credit report, the credit bureaus carefully review any new credit requests or changes to your existing account information to verify the requestor is really you.
3. Contact the Social Security Administration.
If you think your identity or Social Security number (SSN) has been used without your consent, call the Social Security Administration Fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 .
4. Order a credit report.
Review your credit reports to verify your personal information (SSN, mailing address, initials, etc.) is correct and check for any inconsistencies, accounts you didn't open or debts you can't explain. If you find anything unusual, you can ask the credit bureau to remove that information from your credit report.
Check your credit reports often, especially for the first year after you find identity theft, to make sure there’s no new fraudulent activity. The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each nationwide consumer reporting company to provide one free copy of your credit report , at your request, every 12 months.
5. Close any fraudulent accounts.
Contact the company directly if an account has been opened in your name without your knowledge. Let them know the account was opened fraudulently and ask to have it closed. Keep detailed notes of your conversation and ask for documentation showing the account has been closed.
6. Report ID theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Call 1-877-IDTHEFT ( 1-877-438-4338 ) or TTY at 1-866-653-4261 to report ID theft. This helps law enforcement across the country so they can use the information to help with investigations.
For more info, check out the FTC’s Identity Theft Recovery Guide .
7. File a police report.
Call your local law enforcement agency to file a report to help you with creditors who may need more information.