Financial Education HubFree Member Resource
Identity Theft
First 24 Hours Response Log
If you believe your identity has been stolen, use this log to record every call, reference number, and next step. Staying organized right now will protect you for months to come. Take a breath — you have rights, and help is available.
Identity Theft
Response Guide
Response Guide
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You are not alone — and you are protected by law.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) give you strong rights. Work through this log one step at a time, record everything, and keep a copy of this document in a safe place. Pioneer AFCU is here to help — call us anytime.
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Phase 1 — Immediate (Do These First)
Within the First Hour
Stop the bleeding — freeze your credit and alert your financial institutions before more damage is done.
Pioneer AFCU
Alert your credit union first — freeze card, flag account
(304) 348-6648
Next Steps / What They Said
Equifax — Fraud Alert
Place a 1-year fraud alert (they notify the other bureaus)
1-800-685-1111
Next Steps / What They Said
Credit Freeze — All 3 Bureaus
Equifax, Experian & TransUnion — do all three
Free — do online or by phone
Next Steps / Notes
Phase 2 — Same Day
Report & Document
Create official records that protect your legal rights and give you proof to dispute fraudulent accounts.
FTC — IdentityTheft.gov
File an Identity Theft Report online — creates your official plan
identitytheft.gov
Next Steps / What They Said
Local Police Department
File a police report — required by some creditors to dispute fraud
Non-emergency line or in person
Next Steps / What They Said
Social Security Administration
Report if your SSN was compromised or used to file taxes
1-800-772-1213
Next Steps / What They Said
IRS (if tax fraud suspected)
Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN if SSN was used for tax fraud
1-800-908-4490
Next Steps / What They Said
Phase 3 — Pioneer AFCU Follow-Up
Work With Your Credit Union
Pioneer can help you close compromised accounts, dispute unauthorized transactions, and rebuild securely.
Close & Reopen Accounts
Close any compromised accounts and open new ones with new account numbers
(304) 348-6648
Next Steps / Notes
Dispute Unauthorized Transactions
File a formal dispute for any charges you didn't make — Reg E protects you
(304) 348-6648
Transactions Disputed / Notes
Update Passwords & PINs
Change online banking password, PIN, and any accounts using the same credentials
banking.pioneerafcu.org
Notes
Phase 4 — Ongoing Follow-Up
Days 2–30 — Monitor & Dispute
Identity theft recovery takes time. Keep records of everything and follow up until every issue is resolved.
Pull All 3 Credit Reports
Review for fraudulent accounts, dispute anything you didn't open
AnnualCreditReport.com
Disputes Filed / Notes
Monitor Score with SavvyMoney
Track your credit score in the Pioneer mobile app — free, no hard inquiry
pioneerafcu.org/creditscore
Notes / Changes Observed
What to Say When You Call
Calling Pioneer AFCU or Your Bank
▼
Alert them quickly and clearly
What to say:"I believe I am a victim of identity theft. I need to place a fraud alert on my account, review recent transactions for unauthorized activity, and understand my options for securing my accounts immediately."
- Ask them to flag your account for fraud monitoring
- Request a list of all recent transactions for review
- Ask about Regulation E rights for unauthorized debit transactions
- Get a case or reference number before you hang up
Calling a Credit Bureau
▼
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
What to say:"I am a victim of identity theft and I need to place an extended fraud alert on my credit file and a credit freeze immediately. I also need to request a free copy of my current credit report."
- Fraud alert = lasts 1 year, notifies other bureaus automatically
- Extended fraud alert = lasts 7 years, requires FTC report
- Credit freeze = blocks all new credit applications until you lift it — this is the strongest protection
- Write down the PIN or confirmation code for your freeze — you'll need it to lift it later
Filing a Police Report
▼
What to bring and what to ask for
- Bring a government-issued photo ID, proof of address, your FTC Identity Theft Report, and any evidence of the theft
- Ask the officer to file an "identity theft" report specifically — not just a general fraud report
- Ask for a copy of the report with the case number before you leave
- Some creditors require this report to remove fraudulent accounts — keep it safe
What to say:"I am a victim of identity theft. Someone has opened fraudulent accounts in my name. I have an FTC Identity Theft Report and I need to file a police report and receive a copy of it with a case number."
Quick Reference — Who to Call & Why
| Who to Call | Phone / Website | Why | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer AFCU | (304) 348-6648 | Freeze card, dispute transactions, secure accounts | Immediately |
| Equifax | 1-800-685-1111 | Place fraud alert (notifies all 3 bureaus) | Immediately |
| All 3 Bureaus | Online at each site | Place credit freeze — strongest protection | Within 1 hour |
| FTC | identitytheft.gov | Official report + personalized recovery plan | Same day |
| Local Police | Non-emergency line | Police report needed by some creditors | Same day |
| Social Security Admin | 1-800-772-1213 | Report SSN compromise, request new card | Same day |
| IRS | 1-800-908-4490 | Request IP PIN if SSN used for tax fraud | Same day |
| CFPB | consumerfinance.gov | File complaint if creditors won't cooperate | If needed |
My Incident Summary
✏️ Document Everything — This Page Is Your Paper Trail
💡 Keep this document safe. Store a printed copy with your important papers and a digital copy in a secure, password-protected location. Bring it to any in-person meetings with your credit union, police, or creditors. Pioneer AFCU is here to help — call us anytime at (304) 348-6648.