Identity Theft

What to Do After Identity Theft: Legal Steps for New Yorkers

Reviewed by Serge F. Petroff · New York · Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

Identity theft calls for fast action. The core steps: review your credit reports, place a fraud alert or credit freeze, report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov, file a police report if needed, and contact the companies involved. Where the fallout reaches a credit report and the errors do not clear, the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives New York consumers a legal path.

What are the steps to take after identity theft?

Check your credit reports

Unauthorized activity often shows up first on a credit report. Review your reports from all three nationwide agencies, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, available free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for accounts you did not open and inquiries you did not authorize, and note anything unfamiliar.

Place a fraud alert or credit freeze

A fraud alert asks creditors to take extra steps to verify identity before issuing credit. You only need to contact one of the three agencies, which notifies the others. A credit freeze goes further by blocking new accounts from being opened until you lift it.

Report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov

The Federal Trade Commission provides a central place to report identity theft and generate a personalized recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov. The report documents the fraud and is useful when dealing with creditors, banks, and law enforcement.

File a police report if needed

If the theft involves criminal activity committed in your name, a police report can be important evidence, and some creditors require one to process a fraud claim. Bring the FTC identity theft report, any fraudulent account statements, and related correspondence.

Contact the companies involved

Notify the banks, lenders, and other companies tied to the fraudulent activity. Ask for written confirmation that fraudulent accounts and charges have been closed or removed, and update passwords and two-factor authentication on affected accounts.

What if identity theft reaches your credit report?

Some effects of identity theft last well beyond the first response. Fraudulent accounts can lead to collection activity and inaccurate credit reporting. When that happens, the Fair Credit Reporting Act provides a process to dispute the information, and a legal route when a dispute does not resolve.

How Petroff Amshen Helps

Petroff Amshen LLP represents New York consumers harmed by identity theft, focused on the credit and reporting consequences. The firm reviews the credit file, evaluates any prior dispute, and pursues claims in state and federal courts where the Fair Credit Reporting Act has been violated. This is not credit repair. Petroff Amshen LLP is a New York law firm that litigates FCRA claims.

“After identity theft, the steps you take early shape what comes next. When the fraud lands on a credit report and a dispute does not fix it, that is where the law gives us something to act on.”

Serge F. Petroff, Founding Partner, Petroff Amshen LLP

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing to do after identity theft?

Review your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries, then place a fraud alert or credit freeze and report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov.

Should I freeze my credit after identity theft?

A credit freeze blocks new accounts from being opened in your name until you lift it, which adds protection. A fraud alert is a lighter step that asks creditors to verify identity first.

Where do I report identity theft?

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov, which also generates a recovery plan. File a police report if the theft involves criminal activity in your name.

Does identity theft affect my credit report?

Yes. Fraudulent accounts and inquiries can appear on a credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act provides a process to dispute inaccurate information.

When should I talk to a lawyer about identity theft?

If fraudulent information remains on a credit report after a dispute, or if a prior dispute was not resolved, a law firm can review the file and assess whether a claim exists under the FCRA.

Know Your Legal Options.

Petroff Amshen LLP represents New York consumers in identity theft and Fair Credit Reporting Act matters in state and federal courts.

Authoritative sources: IdentityTheft.gov · FTC consumer resources

This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.