victim of fraud if someone has purchased a car in your name. This person has all your information. Please follow the instruction below to protect yourself.
Discovering that someone has purchased a car in your name is one of the clearest signs that you have become a victim of identity theft. When this happens, it’s important to understand the seriousness of the situation: the individual who committed this victim of fraud has access to your personal information — enough to impersonate you, open accounts, and take financial actions that can harm your credit, finances, and long-term security. While this can feel overwhelming, taking the right steps quickly can dramatically reduce the damage and help you regain control. The instructions below will walk you through exactly what to do.
1) Run your credit reports immediately
Victim of fraud? The very first step is to pull your credit reports as soon as possible and look carefully for any suspicious activity. Fraud rarely happens in isolation. If someone has purchased a vehicle in your name, there may be additional red flags such as:
- A new address listed that you do not recognize
- Changes to your personal information (name variation, phone numbers, employment, etc.)
- New credit cards, auto loans, or installment loans opened without your permission
- Hard inquiries from lenders you never applied with
- Accounts showing late payments that do not belong to you
To make this process easier, use our secure credit report service. It provides full reports, scores, and access to customer service agents who can help you review and interpret what you’re seeing. The cost is just $1 for the first week, then $29.90 per month.
https://thecreditbureau.com/consumer-credit-report/
Having a professional set of eyes on your report can help ensure that nothing is missed, especially if this is your first time dealing with victim of fraud.
2) Learn how to clear fraudulent activity
After reviewing your reports, the next step is to identify which items are legitimate and which are fraudulent. We provide detailed guidance on how to dispute and remove fraudulent accounts, inquiries, and incorrect personal information.
Remove Fraudulent Items Off Your Credit Report
This guide explains how to contact the credit bureaus, what documentation you may need, and how to ensure the fraudulent items are fully removed rather than simply marked as “disputed.”
3) Freeze your credit reports
Victim of fraud? Once you understand what needs to be cleaned up, you should freeze your credit reports immediately. Placing a freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your approval, stopping the criminal from doing further damage.
How to Freeze Your Credit Report
victim of fraud? Freezing your credit does not affect your score and does not interfere with accounts you already have. It simply blocks unauthorized access going forward.
4) Continue monitoring your reports
Identity theft rarely happens in one moment — it often unfolds over several weeks or months. Even after you freeze your credit, new fraudulent attempts can still show up as inquiries or as attempts to use your information. This is why ongoing monitoring is strongly recommended.
By continuing to monitor your credit:
- You’ll see new suspicious activity as soon as it appears
- You’ll be alerted to accounts in your name before they grow into bigger problems
- You can track improvements to your credit score as fraudulent items are removed
- You can use tools, such as score analyzers, to understand how your behavior affects your credit
Staying proactive helps you avoid future damage and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.
5) Temporarily unfreeze if you need new credit
If you want to buy a car, get approved for an apartment, refinance a loan, or apply for a new credit card, you will need to temporarily lift your freeze.
Unfreeze Your Report
Once you complete the transaction, make sure to refreeze your reports immediately. Credit freezes typically expire after 12 months, so be prepared to renew them to maintain full protection.
Victim of fraud? Need help?
If you have questions or feel overwhelmed at any step, we are here to support you.
Call 800-518-1077, Option 4
Victim of fraud? You don’t have to handle identity theft alone — we’ll walk you through the process and help you reclaim your financial security
