What Is the First Thing I Should Do Right Now?

Question

If you think your identity has been stolen, the very first thing to do is act quickly to stop further damage.

Billy Guide · Accepted Answer

✅ Step 1: Block Access - Protect Your Accounts

Contact your bank and credit card companies immediately.

Ask them to freeze or close your accounts if there’s suspicious activity.
Change your passwords and PINs—especially for email, online banking, and shopping sites.

🔐 Tip: your banks phone number is on the back of the debit or credit card

✅ Step 2: Investigate what happened

Check bank and credit statements using a trusted device
Understand when the fraud started and whats effected

✅ Step 3: List what is impacted

What personal information is compromised
What financial or healthcare information is impacted
Write Down What Happened
Keep a written record of what you saw, what you did, and who you spoke to.

Example: "On July 21, I saw a charge from a store I never visited. I called my bank and they froze my account.” This helps you stay organized and is useful if the situation develops.

✅ Step 4: Limit future risks - Place a Fraud Alert

Call one of the three credit bureaus (just one is enough—they’ll notify the others):

Equifax: 1‑800‑525‑6285
Experian: 1‑888‑397‑3742
TransUnion: 1‑800‑680‑7289

Tell them you’re a victim of identity theft and want to place a fraud alert on your credit file. This makes it harder for anyone to open new accounts in your name.

✅ Step 5: Yield to Caution

Scammers now have your information and will try to trick you with phone calls pretending to be someone you trust, like your bank or phone company (this scam is called social engineering). This could include letters in the mail, or targeted emails.

Dont trust people reaching out to you. If they need information ask them if you can call them back using their 'companies standard' phone number
Dont provide sensitive information unless you can validate the people on the other side.

🔐 Tip: Let a family member, friend, or caregiver know what’s going on. They can help you with phone calls or online steps if it feels overwhelming.

These are the BILLY steps.. Your Identity, Your Power