Loans Taken in Your Name: Identity Fraud and Credit
A lender or collector contacts you about a loan you never took. How identity fraudsters borrow in your name, and how to report, dispute and protect your credit record.
A message arrives: your loan is overdue. You never borrowed anything. Someone has used your identity, your phone number or your documents to take a loan in your name. It is identity fraud, and you can challenge it.
How it happens
- ID copies shared for jobs, rentals or "verification". See recruiters asking for documents.
- A SIM swap or stolen phone used with mobile money loans. See SIM swap fraud.
- Personal details from data breaches. See leaked ID numbers.
- Selfie and ID scams. See selfie verification scams.
What to do
- Contact the lender through official channels and say the loan is fraudulent. Ask for details in writing.
- Report to the police and get a reference number. See reporting identity theft.
- Check your credit report and other lenders linked to your number.
- Use protections where available: credit freezes, fraud alerts or protective registration. See credit freezes.
- Keep a log of every call and letter. See identity fraud log.
Do not pay "to make it go away" without disputing. Paying can look like accepting the debt.
Related: account opened in my name. For more, see loan app scams and unlicensed lenders.
Frequently asked questions
How could someone take a loan in my name?
Using your ID copies, a selfie, your phone number or SIM, or personal details from a data breach or phishing.
Do I have to repay it?
You should not have to repay a loan you did not take, but you must report and dispute it quickly with evidence.
How do I check for other loans?
Check your credit report where credit bureaus exist, and ask your mobile money provider which loan products are linked to your number.
Sources
- IdentityTheft.gov, US Federal Trade Commission
- Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts, US Federal Trade Commission
- Protective Registration, Cifas (UK)
