If you discovered unfamiliar accounts, hard inquiries you didn’t authorize, or debt collection calls for accounts you never opened, there’s a strong chance your identity has been misused. One of the most important steps in recovering control is contacting Equifax quickly—and knowing exactly what to say when you speak to them.
This guide gives you:
- The correct phone numbers
- What menu options to choose
- The exact script to use
- The documents you’ll need
- What to do if Equifax doesn’t resolve your case
All while showing how tools like Clever Shield help you avoid the long wait times, repeated disputes, and confusion that many victims face.
When You Should Contact Equifax
You must contact Equifax as soon as you notice any sign that someone may be using your identity:
- Accounts you didn’t open
- Charges you didn’t authorize
- A credit score drop you can’t explain
- Hard inquiries that aren’t yours
- IRS rejection due to an already-filed return
- Debt collectors contacting you for accounts you never created
- A dark web alert showing your SSN exposed
- Data broker listings with your personal information
Government agencies like the FTC’s identity theft resource recommend contacting credit bureaus immediately when you confirm or suspect identity theft, because early reporting reduces long-term damage and speeds up dispute resolution.
The Official Equifax Identity Theft Phone Numbers
Use only the official numbers—they change occasionally, but these are the ones currently listed by Equifax:
Equifax Fraud & Identity Theft Department
📞 1-888-766-0008
This is the primary line for fraud alerts, disputes, and identity theft cases.
Equifax Credit Freeze Line
📞 1-888-298-0045
Only use this if you need to place, lift, or manage a credit freeze (which the FTC strongly recommends after confirmed identity theft).
Equifax General Support
📞 1-888-378-4329
Useful if the other lines are backed up.
Tip: Call early in the morning for the fastest response times.
What to Say When You Call (Exact Script)
Most people struggle knowing what to say, so here is your word-for-word script:
“Hi, my name is ________. I’m calling because I’m a victim of identity theft, and I need to place a fraud alert and dispute unauthorized accounts that appeared on my Equifax credit report.”
If they ask what happened:
“I did not open these accounts, I did not authorize these inquiries, and I believe my personal information has been compromised. I need Equifax to block fraudulent accounts, investigate the activity, and send me documentation of the dispute results.”
If they ask for verification:
“I’m ready to verify my identity. I have my ID, Social Security Number, recent address, and supporting documents.”
You can also request something most people forget:
“Please also suppress any reinsertion of the disputed accounts unless Equifax receives proper verification from the data furnisher.”
The FTC recommends this line because it prevents creditors from re-uploading fraud accounts back into your file after removal.
What Documents You Should Have Ready
Equifax may ask for the following:
- Driver’s license, passport, or state ID
- Social Security Number
- Recent utility bill or bank statement for address verification
- A copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report, created at the official IdentityTheft.gov portal
- Any letters, emails, or statements showing fraudulent activity
You can generate the FTC Identity Theft Report at IdentityTheft.gov, which is accepted by banks, credit bureaus, and financial institutions nationwide.
If tax identity theft is involved, the IRS Identity Theft Central page explains what additional documents may be needed.
How to Place a Fraud Alert With Equifax
Placing a fraud alert is free and takes less than 10 minutes.
When you request it:
- It lasts 1 year
- All creditors must verify your identity before opening new accounts
- Equifax will notify the other two bureaus automatically
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends fraud alerts for any suspected identity theft, because they slow down criminals attempting to open new accounts.
Should You Freeze Your Credit Instead?
A credit freeze is even stronger than a fraud alert.
It prevents anyone (including you, temporarily) from opening new accounts.
You can freeze your credit through:
- Online portal
- Phone
- Written request
Credit freezes are recommended by the FTC as one of the most effective prevention tools—however, a freeze does not:
- Remove fraudulent accounts
- Remove inquiries
- Clean negative information
- Stop data broker exposure
- Fix identity theft
This is why victims often need more than just bureau contact—they need ongoing protection and restoration, which is where Clever Shield comes in.
What Happens After You File a Dispute
Equifax will investigate the disputed item and contact the creditor (data furnisher). By law, they have:
- 30 days to respond
- 5 additional days to notify you of results
- No right to reinsert data without notifying you
You’ll receive one of three outcomes:
1. The fraudulent account is removed
Best outcome. But keep an eye on the next few months—reinsertion is common.
2. They request more documentation
This slows the process. Equifax may ask for proof of identity or proof of fraud.
3. They verify the fraudulent account (wrongly)
This happens often because creditors rely on automated records.
If this happens, the FTC recommends filing a new dispute, providing documentation through mail, and escalating with restoration support.
Clever Shield’s specialists handle these escalations for you.
What to Do If Equifax Doesn’t Resolve Your Case
If Equifax rejects or mishandles your dispute:
- File a new FTC Identity Theft Report
- Send Equifax additional written documentation
- Request a reinvestigation
- Submit a consumer statement
- Freeze your credit if not already frozen
- Check Experian and TransUnion for the same fraud
- Begin monitoring breach activity and data exposure
This is the point where most victims get overwhelmed, and why identity theft often takes 100+ hours to fix manually.
Clever Shield’s restoration team:
- Contacts creditors for you
- Builds the dispute file
- Tracks all bureau responses
- Prevents reinsertion
- Coordinates IRS or SSA issues
- Monitors new exposures in real time
So you don’t get stuck repeating the same steps.
When You Should NOT Call Equifax First
If your SSN, passport, email, or phone number appears on the dark web, or if criminals are currently applying for accounts in your name, the FTC recommends:
- Freeze your credit immediately
- Create an FTC Identity Theft Report
- Then contact the bureaus
This prevents additional accounts from being opened before your call is even answered.
Why Calling Equifax Is Only Step One
Contacting Equifax handles fraud that has already happened.
But modern identity theft begins long before that:
- Data brokers expose your address, phone, email
- Criminals test your info on login pages
- Your credentials leak in a breach
- Your SSN appears in dark web bundles
- AI-powered tools attempt synthetic variations of your identity
This is why services that only “monitor” your identity fall short.
Clever Shield:
- Removes your exposed data from brokers
- Monitors for reappearance
- Alerts you in real time when your information is leaked
- Provides full restoration if fraud occurs
- Includes $1M identity theft insurance
So instead of reacting to fraud, you prevent it.
If you need to contact Equifax, use the script above to speed the process—
but if you want long-term protection, run a Clever Shield scan to see where your personal information is already exposed.
