Identity Theft and the 605B Block

If accounts on your report are the result of identity theft, FCRA section 605B (15 U.S.C. 1681c-2) requires the bureaus to block those items within four business days of receiving an identity theft report. This is faster and stronger than an ordinary dispute.

Why it matters

Identity theft victims used to spend years in dispute loops. The 605B block, an FTC identity theft report, and an extended fraud alert are the three tools that short-circuit that process.

Key facts

• An identity theft report can be filed at IdentityTheft.gov and is enough to trigger the 605B block - no police report strictly required, though it can help.
• An initial fraud alert lasts one year; an extended alert (with an identity theft report) lasts seven.
• Creditors must stop furnishing the fraudulent information once notified with the report.
• You are not liable for debts a thief opened in your name once the account is shown to be fraudulent.

In practice

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