How Do I Find and Fix Fraudulent Activity on My Credit Report?

Each CRA uses a different format for its annual credit reports. However, the main sections are essentially the same.

• Personal Information
  • This section lists your name and aliases, current and former, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) and employment history.
  • Look for changes or variations in your personal information, such as last names or addresses, that should not be affiliated with you. Minor variations, like misspellings, may result from data entry errors.
• Accounts
  • Each account should show the company’s name, partial account number, type of account, date opened, activity on the account, payments made and account status.
  • Look for accounts that you do not recognize.
  • Look at previously closed accounts to ensure they are still listed as closed.
• Public Records (Bankruptcy, Judgments and Liens)
  • Look for any filings for bankruptcy, judgments or liens unfamiliar to you.
• Collections
  • Though collections agencies do their due diligence to send written notifications to the individuals they have accounts for, a fraudulent account in your name may not use your correct or current contact information.
  • Look for collections records for accounts not opened by or should be closed in good standing but are shown as in collections.
• Credit Inquiries
  • This section shows companies checking your credit to offer a new line of credit or determine eligibility for an increase in an existing line of credit.
  • Hard inquiries: These are based on an application for a line of credit, such as financing a car or obtaining a student loan.
    • Look for companies to whom you did not apply for credit and contact those companies to ensure an account has not been opened.
  • Soft inquiries: These are inquiries done by companies that may want to send a pre-approved credit card or loan offer or companies you already have a line of credit with to see if you are eligible for an increase.

• Fill out a dispute form with each of the CRAs, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The fastest way to do so is online.
• While the CRAs are completing their investigation, contact the account holder who is reporting the fraudulent activity on the credit report and ask to speak with their fraud department about stopping any new activity, not holding you responsible for any fraudulent charges, and removing the inquiry or account both from their records and with the credit reporting agencies.