Your credit reports are where fraud leaves its footprints. This checklist shows you how to pull all three reports and read them with a fraud-hunter’s eye.
Step 1: Get your reports from the official source. Use AnnualCreditReport.com — the only federally authorized source for free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Avoid lookalike sites that upsell you.
Step 2: Pull all three at once after suspected fraud. Some people stagger reports through the year for routine monitoring, but when fraud is suspected, you want the complete picture immediately.
Step 3: Verify your personal information. Check every name variation, address, and employer listed. Fraudulent addresses and unfamiliar employer names are classic signs that someone is operating under your identity.
Step 4: Scrutinize every account. For each tradeline, ask: did I open this? Do I recognize the creditor, the balance, and the payment history? Flag anything unfamiliar, even small accounts — thieves often test with minor credit lines first.
Step 5: Review inquiries. Hard inquiries you do not recognize mean someone applied for credit in your name. Note the creditor names and dates; they are leads for your disputes and your FTC report.
Step 6: Check collections and public records. Fraudulent accounts often surface first as collections. If a collector contacts you about a debt you do not recognize, do not pay — dispute and document.
Step 7: Save copies and act. Download or print each report with the date. For every fraudulent item, file disputes with the bureau and the furnisher, attach your FTC Identity Theft Report, and place freezes or fraud alerts to stop further damage.
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