Identity theft on your credit report rarely announces itself. You find it by accident. A card you never opened. A collection for a phone plan you never had. A denial letter for a loan you were sure you would get.
And this is the season it happens most. From Black Friday through New Year’s, millions of people type their card numbers into websites they found five minutes ago. Scammers know it. They build fake stores, send fake delivery texts and wait.
If you are in Texas, the risk is higher than average. Texas ranked 4th in the country for identity theft reports per capita in 2025, with 434 reports for every 100,000 residents.
At FRS Credit, we help DFW consumers find and challenge accounts that do not belong to them. Here is what to watch for, and exactly what to do if it happens to you.
How Identity Theft on Your Credit Report Usually Starts
Credit card fraud is the most common type of identity theft in the country. The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel data counted 503,450 credit card fraud reports in just the first three quarters of 2025. Loan and lease fraud came next.
During the holidays, the most common entry points are simple:
- Fake online stores. Slick ads on social media for deals that look too good. According to AARP research cited by the U.S. Treasury, 39 percent of consumers filed a fraud claim after buying something they saw in a social media ad.
- Fake delivery texts. “Your package is on hold. Click to update your address.” The link asks for your card number or your login.
- Gift card scams. Cards drained before you ever give them as a gift.
- Stolen data. Your information may already be out there from a past breach. Holiday chaos just makes it easier to use without you noticing.
Not every scam ends up on your credit report. A stolen card number usually shows up as charges on an existing card. The bigger danger is when a thief uses your information to open new accounts. Those accounts carry your name, your Social Security number, and eventually, their unpaid balances.
Signs of Identity Theft on Your Credit Report
Check your reports for these red flags:
- Accounts you did not open
- Hard inquiries from lenders you never applied with
- Addresses you have never lived at
- Collection accounts for debts you do not recognize
- Balances that do not match your own records
You can pull your reports for free from all three bureaus at annualcreditreport.com. Check all three. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion do not always hold the same information, so a fraudulent account can appear on one report and not the others.
7 Steps to Take If You Find Fraud
Move fast. The longer a fraudulent account sits on your report, the more damage it can do.
1. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus. A credit freeze stops new lenders from pulling your report, so thieves cannot open new accounts in your name. It is free. It does not affect your score. You can lift it when you need to apply for credit yourself.
2. Place a fraud alert. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new credit. An initial alert is free and lasts one year. You only need to contact one bureau, and it must notify the other two.
3. File a report at IdentityTheft.gov. This is the FTC’s official site. It creates an identity theft report and gives you a personalized recovery plan. That report is an important document. Keep it.
4. Contact the companies where fraud happened. Call the fraud department of each lender or card issuer tied to a fake account. Ask them to close it and to confirm in writing that you are not responsible for it.
5. Dispute every fraudulent item with each bureau. With an identity theft report, you have the right under federal law to ask the bureaus to block information that resulted from identity theft. Send your dispute to each bureau that shows the account.
6. Change your passwords and turn on two-factor login. Start with your email, your bank and any store accounts that save your card. If a thief has your email, they can reset everything else.
7. Keep checking. Fraud often comes in waves. Review your reports again in 30 days, then every few months. Keep copies of every letter, report and confirmation number.
Why Fixing It Yourself Can Take Longer Than You Expect
The steps above are your rights. Anyone can follow them. But following them well takes time and paperwork.
Each bureau has its own process. Each lender has its own fraud department. Disputes can take 30 to 45 days per round. Some fraudulent accounts come back after they are removed, because the collector sells the debt or reports it again. And if you are trying to buy a home or a car in the next few months, every week that a fake account sits on your report can cost you.
That is a lot to manage during the busiest month of the year.
How FRS Credit Helps Clean Up Identity Theft on Your Credit Report
FRS Credit is a McKinney based credit repair and education company that has served DFW consumers for more than 12 years. Identity theft items are one of the problems we help clients clean up. We know how frustrating it is to pay the price for something you did not do.
We call our approach financial renovation, and it runs in five stages:
- Identify. We review your reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and flag every account, inquiry and address that does not belong to you.
- Challenge. We dispute anything that is fraudulent, inaccurate or unverifiable with each bureau and creditor, and we track every dispute until it is resolved.
- Educate. We walk you through freezes, fraud alerts and your rights, so you understand what is happening with your file.
- Build. Once the fraud is cleared, we help you rebuild healthy credit habits.
- Protect. We help you set up the monitoring and safeguards that keep the same problem from coming back next season.
You can pick the level of help that fits your situation. Our full-service credit repair handles the disputes, letters and follow-ups for you, which matters when you are juggling several fraudulent accounts. If you would rather handle it yourself with expert guidance, our Credit Navigator program gives you a clear, step-by-step plan at a lower monthly cost. And if identity theft is standing between you and a mortgage, our mortgage-readiness coaching helps get your file ready before you apply.
Every case is different, and results vary. But you should not have to fight three bureaus alone for a debt that was never yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a credit freeze hurt my credit score? No. A freeze does not affect your score. It only blocks new lenders from viewing your report until you lift it.
What is the difference between a fraud alert and a credit freeze? A fraud alert asks lenders to verify your identity before opening credit. A freeze blocks access to your report completely. Many people use both.
Can identity theft on your credit report be removed? Fraudulent accounts can be blocked or removed once you dispute them with proof, such as an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov. Accurate debts that are truly yours cannot be removed.
How long does it take to fix identity theft on a credit report? Simple cases can clear in one dispute round of 30 to 45 days. Cases with several accounts or repeat reporting can take a few months.
Protect Your File Before the Holiday Rush
You cannot stop every scam. You can make it much harder for a thief to use your name, and you can catch problems early.
If you have found something on your report you do not recognize, or you just want to know your file is clean before the holidays, get your free credit analysis from FRS Credit. We will show you exactly what is on your report across all three bureaus and what can be challenged.
We fight the bureaus for you. No games. We only win when you win.
