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Identity Theft on Your Credit Report: How to Remove Fraudulent Accounts
Updated October 23, 2026 · Restore Your Credit editorial team · Educational information, not legal advice
Quick answer
If accounts you didn't open appear on your credit report, file an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov, freeze your credit with all three bureaus, and send each bureau a copy of the report with proof of identity. Under FCRA § 605B, the bureau must block the fraudulent information within four business days of receiving it.
Key facts
- Credit freezes are free at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and don't affect your score.
- A fraud alert lasts one year; an extended fraud alert for identity theft victims lasts seven years.
- An FTC identity theft report lets you block fraudulent accounts and inquiries (FCRA § 605B).
- Bureaus must block reported fraudulent information within 4 business days.
- You're not responsible for debts opened in your name by an identity thief.
Unfamiliar accounts, inquiries or addresses on your report can be signs of identity theft. Moving quickly limits the damage. Here's the order to do things in and the rights that make removal faster than a regular dispute.
Step by step
- 1
Freeze your credit at all three bureaus
A freeze stops new lenders from pulling your report, which blocks most new-account fraud. It's free and you can lift it when you apply for credit.
- 2
File an identity theft report
Go to IdentityTheft.gov, describe what happened and get your FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.
- 3
Send block requests to the bureaus
Send each bureau the identity theft report, proof of identity and a list of the fraudulent accounts and inquiries. They must block the information within four business days.
- 4
Contact the companies involved
Tell each lender or collector the account is fraudulent, send them your identity theft report, and ask them to close it and stop reporting it.
- 5
Monitor and keep records
Check your reports regularly, keep copies of everything, and watch for new accounts, inquiries or address changes.
Freeze vs. fraud alert
A credit freeze blocks access to your report until you lift it, so lenders can't open new accounts in your name. You must contact each bureau separately.
A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening credit. Placing one at any bureau places it at all three. An initial alert lasts one year; identity theft victims with a report can get a seven-year extended alert.
Why an identity theft report is faster than a regular dispute
A regular dispute gives the bureau up to 30 days to investigate. An identity theft block under Section 605B requires the bureau to block the fraudulent information within four business days of receiving your identity theft report, proof of identity and a list of the items.
Bureaus can decline or rescind a block in limited cases, for example if they believe it was requested in error or fraudulently, but they must notify you.
Signs of identity theft on a credit report
- Accounts or loans you didn't open.
- Hard inquiries from lenders you never applied with.
- Addresses, names or employers you don't recognize.
- Collections for debts you don't owe.
- A sudden, unexplained score drop.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove fraudulent accounts from my credit report?
File an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov and send it to each bureau with proof of identity and a list of the fraudulent items. The bureaus must block them within four business days.
Does freezing my credit hurt my score?
No. A freeze doesn't affect your score or your existing accounts. Lift it temporarily when you apply for new credit.
Am I responsible for accounts an identity thief opened?
No. You aren't responsible for fraudulent debts, though you need to report the fraud and dispute the accounts to clear them.
Should I file a police report?
The FTC identity theft report is usually enough for the bureaus and most creditors. Some creditors or situations may still ask for a police report.
Restore Your Credit makes software and educational resources. It is not a credit repair service, credit bureau, lender or law firm, and nobody can guarantee that accurate information will be removed or that your score will rise. You can dispute errors directly with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for free.
Do it yourself, with help
Restore Your Credit lists every negative item from your 3-bureau report, flags possible errors and writes the dispute letters for you to review and send. Free account; plans from $39/month.
Create a free accountRelated guides
- How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report Hard inquiries stay 2 years but affect FICO scores for about 12 months. How to dispute inquiries you didn't authorize, and why authorized ones can't be removed.
- How to Dispute Your Credit Report (and Get Errors Fixed) How to dispute errors on your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports: what to send, the 30-day investigation rule, and what to do if the bureau won't fix it.
- How to Remove Collections from Your Credit Report How collections get removed: validate the debt, dispute errors, ask about goodwill or pay-for-delete, and know when they fall off. What works and what doesn't.
- How to Fix Your Credit: A Complete, Honest Guide How to fix your credit yourself: check all 3 reports, dispute errors, handle collections and late payments, and rebuild with on-time payments and low balances.