Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2, a credit bureau must block fraudulent information within 4 business days after receiving proof of identity, a copy of an identity theft report, identification of the items, and your statement that they are not from your transactions.
An identity theft block, often called a “605B block” after the section number in the original Act, is faster and stronger than an ordinary dispute. It is designed for accounts, inquiries, and other items that resulted from identity theft.
What you must send
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2(a), a consumer reporting agency must block the reporting of information you identify as resulting from identity theft no later than 4 business days after it receives:
- appropriate proof of your identity;
- a copy of an identity theft report;
- identification of the information that resulted from the theft; and
- your statement that the information does not relate to any transaction by you.
The FTC’s sample letter at IdentityTheft.gov is built around these elements. Send a separate request to each bureau that is reporting the fraudulent items.
What happens next
- The bureau must promptly notify the furnisher that the information may result from identity theft, that an identity theft report was filed, that a block was requested, and the effective dates of the block (§ 1681c-2(b)).
- Unlike a regular dispute, a block does not depend on the furnisher agreeing the information is wrong.
When a bureau can refuse or rescind a block
A bureau may decline or rescind a block only if it reasonably determines that the block was made in error, was based on a material misrepresentation of fact by you, or that you obtained goods, services, or money as a result of the blocked transaction (§ 1681c-2(c)). If it does, it must notify you promptly in the same manner required for reinsertion notices under § 1681i(a)(5)(B).
Practical tips
- File your report at IdentityTheft.gov first; it generates the identity theft report and pre-filled letters.
- Send by certified mail, list each item precisely, and keep copies.
- After 4 business days, check your reports to confirm the items are gone.
If a bureau ignores a complete block request, a free case review can help you assess your options, with no fee unless we win. See also identity theft and your credit report.
Related
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2 — Block of information resulting from identity theft (Cornell LII)
- IdentityTheft.gov — Sample Identity Theft Letter to a Credit Bureau
- 12 CFR § 1022.3 — Definitions, including identity theft report (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.