A credit report can hold a surprise. You find a card, a loan, or a collection account you never opened, and the likely culprit sleeps down the hall or calls you every Sunday. Start with the report itself. The steps below come from federal guidance on identity theft and credit report errors, and they apply whoever opened the account.

A handwritten list and pen rest on a kitchen table in soft morning light, beside a mug of coffee.
A handwritten list of unfamiliar accounts and dates, kept beside a pen and a cup of coffee, makes follow-up calls easier.

Read the report line by line

Go slowly. Look for accounts you do not recognize, and for unfamiliar inquiries or addresses. USAGov says accounts you did not open may be a sign of identity theft. The CFPB says identity theft can fill a report with unknown accounts, maxed-out credit cards, or collections for debts you do not owe. A small balance still deserves a look.

For each entry, write down the creditor name, the account number shown, and the date opened. Then add one line on why you think it is not yours. Keep what you know apart from what you only suspect. Those notes will keep your story the same when you talk to the credit bureau and the company that supplied the information.

One detail is easy to miss. A relative may have used your name on purpose, but the report cannot tell you that. It only shows the account. Record the facts first and decide about the person later.

Dispute the entry in writing

Gather any documents that support your claim. Then send a written dispute letter to the credit reporting company whose report shows the error. Name each item you are challenging and say why it is wrong. Keep copies of everything you send.

Send a copy of the dispute to the company that provided the incorrect information, such as the bank or card issuer listed on the account. The CFPB says consumer reporting companies are required by law to promptly block reporting of information a consumer alleges results from identity theft. That is a legal duty, not a promise about how your dispute will end.

If the written dispute does not fix the error, USAGov says you can file a complaint with the CFPB. The sources reviewed here do not say how long a dispute takes or what the bureaus must do after an investigation, so check the official pages for current timelines.

Secure the accounts and report the theft

If an account was opened without your permission, contact the security or fraud department of each institution involved. Ask about closing the account. Use a phone number or website you find yourself, not one from a message that reached you first.

The CFPB also advises reporting the theft to local police and at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides an Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan. Those documents create a record of what happened. The CFPB says you can place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit reports and can start by contacting any one of the three nationwide credit reporting companies. The sources do not cover the detailed steps or any fees, so confirm those with the bureaus.

  • Close or secure the affected accounts.
  • Report the theft at IdentityTheft.gov and to local police.
  • Consider a fraud alert or security freeze.

Weigh the family question before you act

This is the hard part, and the federal sources are silent on it. They do not say whether an account opened by a relative is handled differently from one opened by a stranger. Do not assume the dispute process bends for family, and do not assume it does not.

Some practical points follow from the steps above. A bureau dispute and an Identity Theft Report both ask you to say the account was not authorized. Think about that before you file, because you will be stating it in writing. Decide what you will say if the relative explains or offers to pay. Keep every message from them, and keep your own notes dated.

If the person is a spouse, a dependent, or someone who has died, the sources do not explain how the file is affected. A consumer advocate or attorney can talk through your situation. This article is educational, not legal or financial advice.

Watch for impostors during follow-up

Scammers pretend to be the FTC, the CFPB, other agencies, law enforcement, or your bank. They may say someone used your information to open accounts. The CFPB page says the FTC never threatens you, asks you to transfer money to protect it, or tells you to withdraw cash or buy gold to give to someone. Treat those demands as a scam.

If a call or email seems to come from an agency, hang up. Look up the official number yourself and call back. That habit also covers the relative who suddenly wants to help sort things out by phone.

For the underlying guidance, see the CFPB identity theft page and USAGov on credit report errors.

Please seek a professional. This article is general information, not financial, tax or insurance advice. Please seek a licensed financial, tax or insurance professional about your own situation.