All tools · Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan
How do I freeze my credit after someone opened an account in my name
Use the free tool — Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan
Someone opened an account in your name — what happens next
A new account you didn't open is a sign of identity theft. Recovery is a sequence with clocks: the sooner you act, the more options you keep. A credit freeze and a fraud alert are two of the steps in that sequence, alongside the bank calls, the written dispute, and the government reports.
Where the freeze and the fraud alert fit in the plan
The plan orders everything by today / this week / this month, with every clock computed from the date you give it. The pieces named in the plan are:
- Bank and wire-recall calls, with the words to say
- Your Regulation E rights (a written dispute within 60 days of the statement, under 12 CFR 1005)
- The card chargeback window
- Credit freezes and fraud alerts
- The FTC identity-theft report and a report to IC3
- An IRS IP PIN
- A report to the Florida AG
- Follow-up letters
The FTC identity-theft report is described as the step that "unlocks" the bank's and the credit bureaus' obligations — so it belongs near the start of the sequence, before or alongside the freeze.
The law behind this
The plan is built on the Fair Credit Reporting Act, specifically §605A, §605B, and §609(e), plus Regulation E (12 CFR 1005), the Fair Credit Billing Act, card-network chargeback rules, and Florida Statute 817.568. These are the legal provisions behind fraud alerts, security (credit) freezes, and your right to get certain records. This page does not explain each statute in full — confirm the exact rights and procedures with a lawyer, your bank, or the credit bureau directly.
What isn't spelled out here
Be honest about the gaps: this material does not list which specific credit bureaus to contact, how long a freeze lasts, whether there is a fee, or the exact phone numbers or web forms for placing one. You will need to confirm those details with the credit bureaus yourselves. This is not legal advice and it does not place the freeze for you.
Other free help while you sort this out
- FTC identity theft reporting: identitytheft.gov
- IC3 (internet crime complaint reporting)
- Florida Attorney General: 1-866-966-7226
- AARP Fraud Watch: 877-908-3360
If you're not yet sure whether what happened was a scam, the same family of tools includes ScamCheck FL.
What to do next
Describe what happened and when it happened. The free Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan tool reads your own dates and numbers and gives you the steps in order — including where the freeze and fraud alert fall — with the scripts and letters for each step. It is available in English and Spanish. It is not legal advice and it cannot guarantee your money comes back, but every step still builds the record that matters for your bank, the bureaus, and any later claim.
Scam & Identity-Theft Recovery Plan is an informational tool based on Regulation E (12 CFR 1005), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (§§605A, 605B, 609(e)), the Fair Credit Billing Act, card-network chargeback rules, and Florida Statutes 817.568 as of 2025–26. It is not legal or financial advice and does not file reports or disputes. Coverage of authorised-but-induced transfers depends on the bank and the network. It is not affiliated with any bank, bureau or agency.