--- title: How to Detect Identity Theft on Your Credit Report description: There are two types of misinformation found on credit reports, and it helps to identify each so you can detect ID theft and protect yourself. image: https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-02-25T134016.879.jpg --- [![MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png?width=464&name=MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png "MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2")](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - [Personal Finance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) - [Business](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/business) - [Credit Score](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-score) - [Home](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/home) - [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) - [Life Changes](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/life-changes) - [Insurance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/insurance) - 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[Pets (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/pets) - [dormant account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/dormant-account) - [inactive account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/inactive-account) # How to Detect Identity Theft on Your Credit Report ** [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/author/hanscom-federal-credit-union) ** Feb 25, 2021 ![credit report with id theft](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-02-25T134016.879.jpg) If you’ve ever accessed your credit report, odds are that you've spotted some mistaken information in the file. Statistics show that the majority of people have errors on their credit reports. Do these errors result from identity theft? Not necessarily. There are two types of misinformation found on credit reports, and it helps to identify each. **Common Mistakes** If you see a wrong address, wrong middle initial or even a wrong account on your credit report, it may not necessarily be identity theft. Because credit reports are compiled based on your identifying information, these errors might just be a case of mistaken identity. For example, one thing credit counselors often see is a confusion of information between people with similar names. While this is likely human error, it means that another person’s potentially damaging information is finding its way onto your credit report. **Evidence of Fraud** The other main type of false information on your credit report is data generated because someone is using your information to open accounts or commit fraud. One of the best things about credit reports is that they track this kind of account information and leave a “paper trail” of accounts that are opened or attempted to open in your name. If you see an account you don't recognize on your credit report, that should be cause for concern. Similarly, collections accounts, bankruptcies, or liens you don’t recognize are big red flags.** ** **How to Tell the Difference** All incorrect information on your credit reports should be taken seriously. You need to get this information off your credit reports to protect your credit. In doing so, you may be able to determine if the false information is identity theft.  Since the formal dispute process to correct inaccuracies with the credit bureaus can take several weeks, it is best to get started with that as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is at the website of the bureaus reporting the information, whether that is [Equifax](https://experian.referral.equifax.com/CreditInvestigation/home.action), [Experian](https://www.experian.com/disputes/main.html) or [TransUnion](https://dispute.transunion.com/dp/dispute/landingPage.jsp). Be sure to dispute all the incorrect information, since a wrong social security number or address could open the door for other incorrect information to get on your report.  While you're waiting for the results of the disputes, begin building your case challenging the information. Immediately contact the organization listing the false data. You have the right to access information that is being reported to credit reports under your name, so request the organizations’ records relating to the account or legal matter. If these records show that you are clearly being mistaken for someone — different address, different social security number, etc. — then your initial dispute should be successful.  If the documentation you receive from the organizations listing the account or legal information matches your identifying information, yet you still don’t recognize the data as being yours, there is a pretty good chance you have been a victim of identity theft. If this is the case, it may be difficult to get this information removed from your credit file because to the credit bureaus, it looks like you are the one responsible. You need to not only contact your creditors but also contact the police to file a report immediately. The police report will be vital for you to get the fraudulent account or legal information removed from your credit reports. It's also a good idea to put a [security freeze](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-can-i-set-up-a-fraud-alert-on-my-credit-report) on your credit reports at the websites of the bureaus listed above, at least until you are able to better secure your information.  Any mistakes on your credit report should be taken very seriously. Failing to deal with them in a timely manner could make your financial life much harder going forward. However, if you are vigilant and diligent, you can protect your financial information from unwanted intrusions.    As a member of Hanscom FCU, you can review your credit report at no charge. Meet with a Hanscom FCU representative to review your report and understand the information listed. You can also discuss strategies to help you raise your score. To set up your free Credit Score Review, call 800-656-4328 or visit any Hanscom FCU branch location. You can also [click here](https://www.hfcu.org/credit-score-review.html) to have a representative contact you. [![Get a free Credit Score Review](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118438/b13728df-1cb3-4aea-a79e-dfdfc42dfb2a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118438/b13728df-1cb3-4aea-a79e-dfdfc42dfb2a)  Copyright © 2021 [BALANCE](http://www.balancepro.net/partners/hanscomfcu/)   *Others are reading:* - [The Only Way to Remove Accurate Negative Items on Your Credit Report](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/the-only-way-to-remove-accurate-negative-items-on-your-credit-report) - [How to Safely Destroy Your Expired Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/safely-destroy-expired-credit-cards) - [How To Set Up a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-can-i-set-up-a-fraud-alert-on-my-credit-report) - [Hey! I Didn't Buy That!](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/hey-i-didnt-buy-that-1-12-15) - [6 Reasons to Check Your Credit Card Statements](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/credit-card-statements) ** [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security), [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards), [Scams](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/scams) [** Watch Out for This New COVID Scam ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/watch-out-for-this-new-covid-scam) [** How to Protect Your Personally Identifiable Information ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-protect-your-personal-identifiable-information) ### About Author ![Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/HFCU-Profile-1000x1000.jpg) Hanscom Federal Credit Union Hanscom Federal Credit Union, a purpose-driven $1.9 billion organization based in Littleton, MA, empowers its members to achieve financial wellness. Hanscom FCU serves over 95,000 members across the country and overseas through 16 branches, over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, 5,000 contact centers, and a web-based branch. 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The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. 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Please consult the privacy disclosures on those linked sites for further information. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" }, "dateModified" : "February 25, 2021, 7:20:18 PM", "datePublished" : "2021-02-25 19:20:18", "description" : "There are two types of misinformation found on credit reports, and it helps to identify each so you can detect ID theft and protect yourself.", "headline" : "How to Detect Identity Theft on Your Credit Report", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/118438/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-02-25T134016.879.jpg" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-detect-identity-theft-on-your-credit-report", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/118438/Logo%202.jpg" }, "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" } } ```