Utahns face identity theft from many angles: hacked email accounts, stolen debit cards, fraudulent loans, fake unemployment claims, and even tax refunds filed in someone else’s name. Once thieves have your information, they often move quickly to open new credit, transfer money, or impersonate you online.

The good news: you have rights. Federal law, Utah statutes, and tools like IdentityTheft.gov, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and police or IC3 reports give you leverage to stop the damage, dispute fraudulent accounts, and restore your credit history. The key is to follow a clear, step-by-step plan.

Your first priority is to block the thief from continuing to use your accounts or logins.

• Change passwords on email, banking apps, social media, and any account that stores payment information.
• Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) so new logins require a code sent to your phone or app.
• Sign out of all devices in your account settings if that option is available.
• Review recent activity for logins from cities, countries, or devices you don’t recognize.

Because most identity-theft schemes start with a compromised email or phone, securing those “core” accounts first helps you cut off the thief’s access to password resets and confirmation codes.

Next, work directly with the financial institutions where money is moving or cards are used. Ask to speak with the fraud department.

• Report unauthorized charges on debit and credit cards.
• Ask the bank to freeze or close any compromised accounts.
• Request new card numbers and account numbers where appropriate.
• Update alerts so you receive texts or emails for new charges or transfers.

Banks and card issuers must investigate fraud under federal law, and early reporting increases the chance of reimbursement and quick resolution. Make notes of who you spoke with, dates, and confirmation numbers.

Fraud alerts and credit freezes help you control what happens next with your credit profile.

Fraud alert: Tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit in your name. When you place a fraud alert with one bureau, it typically notifies the others.

Credit freeze: Blocks new creditors from accessing your credit report entirely, which usually stops new accounts from being opened.

Contact the three major bureaus (free for Utahns):

Once your accounts and credit are locked down, create a paper trail. Official reports make it easier to dispute charges, correct your credit report, and show creditors you are a victim not a person who simply failed to pay.

• FTC (IdentityTheft.gov): File an online complaint to receive a written Identity Theft Report and personalized recovery plan.
• Local Utah police: Consider a police report if your wallet was stolen, a creditor or debt collector asks for it, or you need additional documentation.
• IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center): Use www.ic3.gov for scams involving email, social media, hacked accounts, or online payments.

Quick reporting chart for Utah victims:

With your reports in place, your final step is to clean up the damage and keep an eye on your credit going forward.

• Dispute fraudulent accounts and charges in writing with each creditor and credit bureau.
• Include copies of your FTC Identity Theft Report, police report (if any), and any bank or card statements showing the fraud.
• Pull your credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com and highlight errors.
• Set reminders to re-check your reports and bank activity regularly over the next year.

Identity theft recovery timeline (typical pattern):