The best way to find out if you have been the victim of identity theft and to determine what accounts may have been opened in your name by criminals is to get a copy of your credit report. Prior to the pandemic, individuals were eligible to obtain a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies once a year. Last year, the credit reporting agencies allowed eligible individuals to obtain their credit reports once a week for free.

The credit reporting agencies — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax — are extending the ability to obtain free weekly credit reports through April 20, 2021, according to the Federal Trade Commission [view related].

Make sure you go to the right site, as there are fake websites that claim to be the legitimate website and which then ask for your Social Security number or payment information in order to to commit fraud against you. Here is the legitimate site to get your free credit report. You also can always find the legitimate website access through the FTC website at www.ftc.gov.

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.