Identity Theft
If someone steals and uses your personal information, take these three steps as soon as possible:
1. Place a fraud alert with the credit reporting companies.
2. Get your free credit reports.
3. Create an Identity Theft Report by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and your local police department.
Then, you can begin to repair the damage. The resources on this page will help guide you through the process.
What to Do Right Away
Immediate Steps to Repair Identity Theft
Here’s how to begin to limit the harm from identity theft.
What to Do Next
Extended Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes
Placing both extended fraud alerts and credit freezes on your credit reports can make it more difficult for an identity thief to open new accounts in your name.
Repairing Your Credit After Identity Theft
Here are step-by-step instructions for disputing fraudulent charges and accounts related to identity theft.
Lost or Stolen Credit, ATM, and Debit Cards
Federal law limits your liability if your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen, but your liability may depend on how quickly you report the loss or theft.
Specific Types of Identity Theft
Do you know the warning signs that an identity thief is using your Social Security number?
Here’s how to protect your child’s personal information against theft.
Medical Identity Theft
An identity thief can use your personal information to get medical care or services. Find out how to respond.
Protecting Your Identity
If identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. Here’s how to act quickly to limit the damage.
How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure
Safeguard your personal information, whether it is on paper, online, or on your computers and mobile devices.
Sample Letters and Forms
Sample Letters and Forms for Victims of Identity Theft
Use these samples to help write your own letters to limit damage caused by identity theft.
Podcasts
- 9/25/2023 – (1) Rent Control & What It Means, (2) Senior Spotlight of the Week – Sorrell Greene.
- 9/18/2023 – (1) Falls Prevention Tips; From The Heart, (2) Housing Assistance Programs for Seniors.
- 9/11/2023 – (1) Our September 2023 “Senior of the Month“, (2) Digital Skills Training 4 Seniors.
- 9/4/2023 – (1) Preparing for the 2023 Medicare Open Enrollment Season, (2) Therapies for Pain Management.
- 8/28/2023 – (1) New DC Laws Affecting Seniors, (2) Benefits of Senior Wellness Centers.
- 8/21/2023 – (1) Be Your Own Hero; Here’s How., (2) Senior Home Sharing is Stability.
- 8/14/2023 – (1) End-of-Life Planning; It’s Essential, (2) How You Know You Are Getting Older.
- 8/7/2023 – (1) The Beacon Newspaper “August 2023”, (2) Understanding The PACT Act.
- 7/31/2023 – (1) Confronting Racial Inequities, (2) “Oral Hygiene & Seniors…
- 7/24/2023 – (1) Affordable Services & Housing Options for Seniors, (2) Housing Programs for Seniors; Renters & Homeowners.
- 7/17/2023 – (1) Help for the Sandwich Generation, (2) Bringing Technology to All Older Adults.
- 7/10/2023 – (1) Recognizing Maryland Volunteers, (2) What’s in DC’s FY24 Budget for Seniors?
- 7-3-2023 – (1) DC Department of Aging & Community Living 3rd Qtr 2023 Senior Address, (2) Promoting Stroke Prevention Awareness.
- 6/26/2023 – (1) Accessing Legal Help Services for Free or Fee-Reduced, (2) Senior Oral Health in Crisis.
- 6/19/2023 – (1) Introducing Ms Senior DC 2023, (2) “Home Sharing for Seniors.
- 6/12/2023 – AARP Maryland presents PROTECT WEEK 2023
- 6/5/2023 – (1) Recognizing Abuse within Long-Term Care Settings, (2) Role of Poly-Victimization on Financial Exploitation.
- 5/29/2023 – (1) Avoiding Real Property Tax Lien Auctions, (2) Understanding Sexual Health for the 50+.
- 5/22/2023 – (1) How to Identify Elder Fraud & Neglect, (2) Protecting Seniors Against Current Scams.
- 5/15/2023 – (1) Have You Renewed Your Medicaid?, (2) Laughter is Good Medicine.
- 5/8/2023 – (1) The Importance of Internet Access & Adoption for Seniors, (2) The Value of End-Of-Life Planning.
- 5/1/2023 – (1) Energy Assistance Programs for Seniors, (2) Let’s Have a Senior Sex Talk.
- 4/24/2023 – (1) Benefit Changes with End of COVID Public Health Emergencies, (2) Oral Hygiene, Dentures & more…
- 4/17/2023 – (1) Identifying Mental Health Disorders, (2) Lowering Internet Costs for Seniors.
- 4/10/2023 – (1) Check Your Utility Bill!, (2) Budgets, Advocacy & Events.
- 4/3/2023 – (1) Introducing the New DACL Director, (2) Avoiding Financial Scams & more.
- 3/27/2023 – (1) FREE Legal Services in DC for the 60+, (2) COVID Is Not Over!.
- 3/20/2023 – (1) Improving Sleep Quality, (2) Seniors & the Digital Divide 101.
- 3/13/2023 – (1) Understanding Medicare, (2) Chasing Dreams.
- 3/6/2023 – (1) The Beacon Newspaper; Past & Present, (2) Signs of Problem Gambling.
- 2/27/2023 – (1) Recognizing Social Workers, (2) Phases of Retirement.
- 2/20/2023 – (1) Alopecia & It’s Impact. (2) Black Women 50+ for Wellness.
- 2/13/2023 – (1) Cutting Your Internet Costs, (2) Tip to Navigating a Serious Illness.
- 2/6/2023 – (1) Conquering Your Diabetes. (2) Your Story. Your Wellness.
- 1/30/2023 – (1) A Story; From Tragedy to Triumph, (2) Avoiding Social Security Scams.
- 1/23/2023 – (1) An Age-Friendlier Maryland, (2) Budgets, Stories & Grants.
- 1/16/2023 – (1) Promoting Whole-Person Health, (2) Older Feet Need Special Care.
- 1/9/2023 – (1) Helping Seniors Develop Digital Skills, (2) Confronting Our Aging Beliefs.
- 1/2/2023 – (1) Addressing Senior Food Insecurity in the District of Columbia, (2) Vision Care is Self-Care.
- 12/26/2022 – (1) Bridging the Racial Divide, (2) End of 2022 Wrap-Up.
- 12/19/2022 – (1) Holiday Health Tips & Beyond, (2) Tis’ The Season 2022; For The Old School Senior.
- 12/12/2022 – (1) Xfinity Mobile benefits for Seniors, (2) Tis’ The Season 2022; Uninterrupted Christmas Carols.
- 12/5/2022 – (1) Common Disabilities As We Age, (2) Uninterrupted Christmas Carols 2022.
- 11/28/2022 – (1) Public Benefits & Services for Seniors, (2) Help for the Alzheimer Caregiver.
- 11/21/2022 – (1) “Funding Businesses for the 50+ Woman, (2) November is National Family Caregiving Month.
- 11/14/2022 – (1) Good Cyber Hygiene for Seniors, (2) Disrupting Health Disparities.
- 11/7/2022 – (1) Working After 65?, (2) Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body.
- 10/31/2022 – (1) Rights of Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities, (2) Understanding Prostate Cancer.
- 10/24/2022 – (1) Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids, (2) 2022 Power of Aging Expo.
- 10/17/2022 – (1) Learning the Basics of Medicare, (2) COVID-19 BOOSTER Shots.
- 10/10/2022 – (1) Tech Classes for Seniors, (2) Small Acts. Save Lives.
- 10/3/2022 – (1) A District of Columbia Quarterly Senior Address in 2022, (2) Investment Protections for the 50 & Better.