Identity theft gives you stronger and faster FCRA rights than standard disputes. Section 605B requires bureaus to block fraudulent information within four business days of receiving the required documentation — dramatically faster than the standard 30-day dispute window.
Step 1: File Your FTC Identity Theft Report
Go to identitytheft.gov and file with the Federal Trade Commission. This generates an official Identity Theft Report with a confirmation number that serves as your legal documentation for 605B purposes. Also file a police report with your local department — some creditors and bureaus require both.
Step 2: Place Fraud Alerts on All Three Bureaus
Contact any one bureau to place a fraud alert — they must notify the other two. An initial fraud alert lasts one year. An extended fraud alert, available to confirmed identity theft victims, lasts seven years. Both entitle you to free credit reports from each bureau.
Step 3: Consider a Credit Freeze
A credit freeze locks your credit file so no new creditor can access it. Freezes are free under federal law and can be placed and lifted online with each bureau. If you are not actively applying for new credit, a freeze is the most effective protection against additional fraudulent accounts.
Step 4: Send 605B Dispute Letters to All Three Bureaus
Send a written dispute to each bureau explicitly invoking Section 605B. Include: your full name, address, and date of birth; your FTC Identity Theft Report number and a copy of the report; a copy of your government-issued photo ID; proof of current address; and a specific list of each fraudulent account, inquiry, or address to be blocked. Send via certified mail. The four-business-day clock starts when the bureau receives your letter.
Step 5: Dispute Directly with Creditors
Contact each creditor that opened a fraudulent account. Request that they close the account, mark it as fraudulent in their records, and remove it from your credit reports. Follow up in writing referencing your FTC report number.
Ongoing monitoring: After resolving the immediate fraud, set up credit monitoring that alerts you to new accounts, inquiries, and address changes in real time. Identity theft victims are at elevated risk of repeat fraud.
Download our identity theft dispute letter template: Free Dispute Letter Templates →
More in this dispute series:
- Credit Dispute Guide: The Complete FiStarr Playbook
- 609 Letter: How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
- 611 Letter: Holding Bureaus Accountable After a Dispute
- 623 Dispute Letter: Go Directly to the Furnisher
- CFPB Complaint Guide: Escalate When Bureaus Ignore You
- Debt Validation Letter: Stop Collectors Cold
- Collection Removal Guide: Every Strategy That Works
- Late Payment Removal: Dispute, Goodwill, and Negotiation
- Goodwill Letter: Ask Creditors to Remove Late Payments
- Charge-Off Dispute: Remove or Correct Charge-Offs