Identity Theft Recovery: Your 30-Day Credit Repair Plan

What's inside

Someone opened a credit card, took out a loan, or filed a tax return using your name — and you don't know what to lock down first before more damage happens. This guide gives you the exact 30-day sequence to freeze the fraud, file the reports that legally matter, and get every fraudulent account erased from your credit file.

What's Inside

• The first-72-hours lockdown sequence, and why speed matters more than getting every detail perfect
• The three reports that actually stop new fraud — FTC Identity Theft Report, police report, and credit bureau freeze/alert — and the one most people skip
• A fillable Fraud Response File worksheet to track every account, call, and report number in one place
• Credit freeze vs. fraud alert explained: which one you need, and why you might need both
• Step-by-step dispute letters that get fraudulent accounts erased under FCRA Section 605B, plus a real worked example
• What to do if a thief filed taxes in your name too, including IRS Form 14039 and the Identity Protection PIN
• A 30-day close-out plan to confirm your credit file is actually clean

Who This Is For

This guide is for anyone who just discovered a fraudulent charge, a new account opened in their name, or a data breach notice, and is panicking about how fast the damage could spread. It's written for people who want one clear, ordered sequence instead of scattered advice from a bank rep, a forum thread, and a government website that don't agree with each other. If you're staring at a declined card, a collection notice for a loan you never took, or an e-file rejection you don't understand, this guide starts exactly where you are.

What You Get

• File format: PDF
• Page count: 18 pages
• Instant digital download — no shipping, no waiting
• Compatible with phone, tablet, desktop, and print-at-home

FAQ

Q: What's the first thing I should do if I think my identity was stolen?
A: File an FTC Identity Theft Report at identitytheft.gov first — it's free, takes about 15 minutes, and becomes the document every bank, bureau, and creditor is required to accept as proof of fraud for everything that follows.

Q: Should I freeze my credit or just set a fraud alert?
A: For an active identity theft case, use both — freeze your credit at all three bureaus immediately to stop new accounts cold, then upgrade to an extended fraud alert once your FTC report is filed for years of standing protection.

Q: How long does it actually take to get a fraudulent account removed from my credit report?
A: Under FCRA Section 605B, bureaus must block a verified fraudulent account within four business days of receiving your FTC report — this guide gives you the exact letter format that starts that clock instead of getting stuck in a 30-day dispute queue.

Q: What if the identity thief filed a tax return in my name?
A: That's a separate process from your credit bureau disputes — this guide walks you through filing IRS Form 14039 and getting an Identity Protection PIN so it can't happen again next tax season.