Is the FTC identity theft report free?

Yes — completely free. There is no charge to file a report at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338.

What does an FTC Identity Theft Report do?

It is an official document that proves someone stole your identity and triggers federal rights under the FCRA, including the right to permanently block fraudulent accounts from your credit within 4 business days.

How to File an FTC Identity Theft Report

Start here — this is the most important report

The FTC Identity Theft Report is free, takes about 15–20 minutes online, and is the foundation for every other step in your recovery. File it before you call the police, before you dispute with the credit bureaus, before anything else.

Where to file

Go to IdentityTheft.gov and click “Get started.” Or go directly to the report form at identitytheft.gov/report. If you prefer the phone, call 1-877-438-4338 (1-877-ID-THEFT) — a free FTC specialist will help you.

How to file — step by step

1Go to IdentityTheft.gov. Open the site on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. No special software needed.
2Create a free account (strongly recommended). An account saves your progress, pre-fills the dispute letters and forms you need to send businesses, and lets you update your recovery plan as things change. You can also use the site without an account if you prefer.
3Answer the questions about the fraud. The site asks what type of fraud occurred, which accounts were affected, and what you have already done. Be as specific as you can — more detail makes your report stronger. It takes about 15–20 minutes.
4Download and print your FTC affidavit. At the end, you will get an official FTC Identity Theft Report (sometimes called the affidavit). Print it or save the PDF. You will need this document to file a police report and to dispute fraudulent accounts with credit bureaus.
5Follow your personalized recovery plan. IdentityTheft.gov gives you a step-by-step plan based on your specific situation — pre-filled letters to send to creditors, instructions for each step, and a way to track what you have done.

What rights does the FTC report unlock?

Once you have your FTC Identity Theft Report, federal law gives you the following rights at no cost:

✓Block fraudulent accounts: Credit bureaus must block fraudulent accounts and information from your report within 4 business days of receiving your request and a copy of your FTC report (FCRA § 1681c-2).
✓Keep fraud from reappearing: Once blocked, that information cannot come back onto your report as long as you notify the bureau that it was blocked.
✓Stop debt collectors: Collectors cannot collect or sell a debt if you tell them you are a victim of identity theft and provide a copy of your FTC report.
✓Extended 7-year fraud alert: You qualify for an extended fraud alert (versus the standard 1-year alert), which requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit.

Helpful resources from the FTC

Start your FTC report now FTC: Report Identity Theft overview Free FTC booklet: Identity Theft Recovery Plan (PDF)

After the FTC report — what’s next?

Once you have your FTC affidavit, the next steps are:

•If any mail was stolen or a fraudulent address change was filed: Report it to the Postal Inspectors
•File a police report with your FTC affidavit in hand — this creates a complete Identity Theft Report.
•Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute fraudulent accounts with the bureaus.

See the full plan in our Master Reporting Guide.

Bureaus still showing fraudulent accounts after your FTC report?

If you have filed your FTC report and disputed with the bureaus — and they are still reporting fraud as yours — that may be a violation of the FCRA. Contact our attorneys to talk about your credit errors and identity theft. No fee unless we recover money for you.

Contact an FCRA attorney

This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page.