How to dispute fraudulent accounts on your credit file
Discovering that someone has opened accounts in your name is deeply unsettling. You’re dealing with identity fraud, and you need to act quickly. In 2025, over 444,000 fraud cases were recorded on the CIFAS National Fraud Database — identity fraud accounted for 54% of them.
The process of cleaning up takes longer than other disputes, but the law is clear: lenders must remove data they know to be fraudulent. Here’s how to report it properly and to all the right places.
Key takeaways
- First step: report to Action Fraud and get a crime reference number. You need this before anything else.
- Apply for CIFAS Protective Registration (£30 for 2 years) to stop it happening again.
- Contact all three CRAs and every lender where fraudulent accounts were opened.
- CIFAS protection does NOT affect your credit score — it only triggers extra identity checks.
- Be prepared: this can take weeks to months. Each lender investigates separately.
What to do right now
Report to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040) and get a crime reference number. This is essential — lenders and CRAs will ask for it.
Contact all three CRAs immediately: report the fraudulent accounts, ask them to investigate, and request removal of fraudulent data.
Contact every lender where accounts were opened in your name. Provide the Action Fraud reference number.
Apply for CIFAS Protective Registration (£30 for 2 years, at cifas.org.uk). This adds a warning flag to the National Fraud Database — any CIFAS member will do extra checks when your details are used. It does not affect your credit score.
Check your bank accounts for unauthorised transactions.
Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication on financial accounts.
What you’ll need
Action Fraud crime reference number (essential — nothing moves without this). Proof of identity (passport, driving licence). Proof of address at the time the fraudulent accounts were opened. Any evidence you didn’t apply — for example, you were abroad when the application was made, or the application was from an address you’ve never lived at.
Where to send your dispute
Experian: Submit a dispute through your account. Experian has a dedicated Victims of Fraud team. Phone: 0344 481 8000.
Equifax: Use the Online Help portal. Select “CIFAS/Fraud information” as the dispute category. Phone: 0800 014 2955.
TransUnion: Use transunionstatreport.co.uk or Credit Karma. Phone: 0330 024 7574.
How to protect yourself going forward
CIFAS is the UK’s not-for-profit fraud prevention community. Protective Registration costs £30 and lasts 2 years. It adds a warning flag so that any CIFAS member (banks, lenders, insurers) will carry out extra identity checks when your details are used in an application.
It does not affect your credit score and does not prevent you from applying for credit — it just triggers additional verification. Apply at cifas.org.uk.
How long will this take?
Removing fraudulent data is slower than other disputes. Each lender must investigate separately, which can take 30+ days. The CRA removes the data once the lender confirms fraud.
Don’t assume the police will actively investigate — Action Fraud is a reporting centre, not an investigation unit. The crime reference number is for your records and to support your dispute with lenders and CRAs.
Evidence checklist
- Action Fraud crime reference number
- Proof of identity (passport, driving licence)
- Proof of address at the time of the fraudulent applications
- Evidence you didn’t apply (e.g., travel records, address mismatch)
Dispute this with your CRA
Each agency has a different process. Pick yours for a step-by-step guide:
FAQs
Will CIFAS registration affect my credit score?
No. It adds a warning flag for extra verification but doesn’t appear on your credit report or touch your score.
How much does CIFAS Protective Registration cost?
£30 for 2 years. Apply at cifas.org.uk.
Will the police actually investigate?
Honestly, Action Fraud is mainly a reporting centre, not an investigation unit. The crime reference number is there to support your disputes with lenders and CRAs. Police may investigate if your case is part of a larger pattern.
Can I claim fraud on accounts I actually opened?
Absolutely not. Making a false fraud claim is itself fraudulent and can result in a CIFAS marker filed against you — which will severely damage your ability to get credit for up to 6 years.
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