Guide

What to do if you find a credit account you did not open

Paper-cut row of account tiles with one tile highlighted under a magnifying glass, illustrating checking an unfamiliar account.
Illustration. Not a real credit report.

An unfamiliar account on your credit report can be alarming. This US guide covers two things: how to check whether an unfamiliar account is one you simply do not recognize, and the general steps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lists when someone has used your personal information without your permission.

It is general information. It is not legal advice, and it does not decide what happened in your situation. The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov builds a personalized plan from the details you enter.

Key takeaways

  • An account you do not recognize is not yet shown to be fraud. The CFPB says to contact the company to learn more, because an unfamiliar name may be legitimate.
  • If it turns out someone used your information without your permission, the FTC's recovery steps start with calling the company, placing a fraud alert and checking your credit reports.
  • The FTC says you can report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and receive a free personal recovery plan.
  • The FTC says a fraud alert is free, lasts one year and can be renewed.
  • Your recovery plan depends on your facts. The FTC's list of what it may include is conditional.

First, find out what the account is

The FTC defines identity theft as someone using your personal information, such as your name, address or account numbers, without your permission. It says accounts in your name that you do not recognize could be a sign of it. A sign is not proof, and not every unfamiliar entry on a credit report means identity theft.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says that if you do not recognize a creditor, you should contact the company to learn more, because the unfamiliar creditor may be legitimate. It gives these examples of why a name can look unfamiliar:

  • A creditor or lender sold your account, or uses a third-party collection company to collect a debt, so a different name appears.
  • A retail store credit card is often listed under the name of the bank that issued it, not the store.
  • A creditor listed only as making an inquiry may be prescreening you for a credit offer.

The CFPB adds that if you believe the information is incorrect, you should dispute it. The steps below are the FTC's general sequence for the case where the evidence shows someone used your information without your permission.

Paper-cut phone handset and envelope with a check mark, illustrating contacting the company to learn what an account is.
The CFPB says to contact the company to learn more.

Step 1: Contact the company where the account was opened

For accounts you know someone opened using your identity, the FTC says to call the fraud department of the company. Explain that someone used your identity, and ask them to close or freeze the accounts. The FTC also says to change logins, passwords and PINs for your accounts.

Step 2: Place a fraud alert and look at your credit reports

The FTC says to place a fraud alert and get your credit reports, even if you already have a credit freeze in place. With a fraud alert on your report, a business has to verify your identity before opening a new credit account in your name.

According to the FTC:

  • You place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus. That bureau must tell the other two.
  • You can renew the alert after a year.
  • Federal law gives you the right to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. The bureaus also let you check your report once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • When you review the reports, the FTC says to look for accounts or transactions you do not recognize.

Contact details for each bureau are on the FTC's page, linked in the sources below. Check them there, since they can change.

Three paper-cut steps rising left to right, illustrating a sequence of recovery steps.
General steps from the FTC, in order.

Step 3: Report it and get a recovery plan

The FTC says to report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov. You answer questions and give details about what happened, including problems you saw on your credit reports. The site uses that information to create an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan with step-by-step advice.

The FTC says your recovery plan may tell you to take steps such as:

  • closing new accounts opened in your name
  • removing charges made on your existing accounts
  • contacting the three credit bureaus to correct your credit report
  • considering an extended fraud alert or credit freeze
  • checking your credit reports regularly

Which of these apply depends on what happened and what the site's plan advises for you.

About the report itself

Give accurate information when you report. IdentityTheft.gov states that it is illegal to knowingly file a false identity theft report with the FTC, and that doing so may result in a fine, imprisonment or both.

The site also has a Privacy Act statement describing how the FTC collects, uses and may share the information in a report. It does not promise that a report stays confidential. Read it before you submit a report: it is on IdentityTheft.gov. This guide does not summarize it.

Questions to ask yourself before you start

  • Which accounts do I not recognize, and what did the company tell me when I contacted it?
  • Do I have copies of the credit reports I reviewed?
  • Have I written down who I spoke to and when?

The bottom line

Contact the company first to learn what an unfamiliar account is. If the evidence shows someone used your information without permission, the FTC's general sequence is to contact the company, place a fraud alert, review your credit reports and report at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized plan. Which steps your plan includes depends on your facts.

Tell us what you are trying to figure out. Valora reviews inquiries and emails next steps; we are not arranging advisor matches or introductions. Do not submit confidential financial documents.

Talk it through

Common questions

  1. Is a fraud alert free? The FTC says you can place a free, one-year fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus, which must tell the other two.
  2. How long does a fraud alert last? The FTC says one year, and that you can renew it.
  3. How often can I get my credit reports? The FTC says federal law gives you a free copy every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus, and that the bureaus also let you check once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
  4. What does IdentityTheft.gov give me? The FTC says that after you answer questions about what happened, the site creates an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.
  5. Does my recovery plan always include a credit freeze? No. The FTC says the plan may tell you to consider an extended fraud alert or credit freeze, depending on your situation.
  6. Does every unfamiliar account mean identity theft? No. The FTC says unrecognized accounts could be a sign of identity theft. The CFPB says an unfamiliar creditor may be legitimate and to contact the company to learn more.
  7. Where can I read how the FTC handles my report? The Privacy Act statement on IdentityTheft.gov describes how the FTC collects, uses and may share report information.

Sources

Federal Trade Commission: How to recover from identity theft (Sep 27, 2024), Stolen identity? Get help at IdentityTheft.gov (updated Sep 23, 2022; its weekly-report line is dated and not used), What to know about identity theft, Disputing errors on your credit reports and IdentityTheft.gov.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Should I dispute a creditor on my credit report if I don't recognize the company? (reviewed Sep 5, 2025).