Why is it important for someone who is a victim of identity theft to contact credit bureaus?

Contacting credit bureaus is crucial for victims of identity theft primarily to prevent new accounts from being opened in their name. When someone’s identity is stolen, the thief may use that information to open new credit accounts or loans, which can lead to significant financial repercussions for the victim. By notifying the credit bureaus, the victim can place a fraud alert on their credit report, which signals to creditors to take extra steps to verify identity before opening any new accounts. This proactive measure helps to protect the victim’s credit experience and minimize further damage from the theft.

In addition to this, the other options, while they may involve steps a victim should take post-theft, do not address the immediate concern of stopping new accounts from being fraudulently opened. Closing existing accounts and filing a legal complaint may be necessary actions after the fact, but they do not prevent ongoing identity theft. Changing an address is irrelevant in the context of preventing identity theft and does not solve the issue of unauthorized use of one’s identity.