If you think you are a victim of identity theft or fraud, you should NOT contact the identity thief, anyone claiming to recover your funds for a fee, or non-official entities impersonating law enforcement or fraud recovery services. Instead, you should report the fraud through proper official channels.
Who Not to Contact
- Do not respond to anyone claiming to work with IC3 or FBI that contacts you directly asking for money or information. IC3 will never directly contact victims for money or personal data.
- Do not contact or send money to anyone promising to recover lost funds or remove fraudulent information for a fee.
- Avoid dealing with unofficial or suspicious websites and people claiming to "recover" your identity or money.
Who to Contact Instead
- Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338.
- Contact your bank or credit card issuers immediately to freeze or close compromised accounts.
- Place fraud alerts or security freezes with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- File a police report with your local law enforcement, providing the FTC Identity Theft Report and any proof of theft.
- Report cyber-enabled fraud to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if applicable.
Following these steps ensures you deal only with official organizations and avoid scams or further harm. Never engage with fraudsters or pay fees to third parties claiming to fix identity theft. This approach helps protect your identity and financial security effectively.