What to Do If Someone Uses Your Identity to Open Accounts or Take Loans

Discovering that someone has opened accounts or taken loans in your name is terrifying, but swift action limits the damage. Freeze your credit immediately with all major credit bureaus — this prevents any new accounts from being opened. Then file a police report and an identity theft report with the relevant authority in your country.

Dispute every fraudulent account in writing, not just by phone. Send disputes via certified mail or email with delivery confirmation. Set up fraud alerts on your credit file. Keep a detailed log of every action you take, with dates and names of people you spoke to. This documentation becomes your proof if disputes drag on.