A lender name on a report may differ from the brand where you applied. Compare the inquiry date with recent credit, housing, utility, and financing applica
A lender name on a report may differ from the brand where you applied. Compare the inquiry date with recent credit, housing, utility, and financing applications before calling it unauthorized.
Check the underlying records
Contact the company to ask what application or permissible purpose produced the inquiry. Review the rest of your report for unknown accounts. An inquiry may be one clue of identity theft, but a score movement alone is not proof of fraud.
Take the next step
If an application was not yours, contact the company, consider a credit freeze, and use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. Dispute inaccurate information with the bureau showing it. Keep dates, reference numbers, and copies of correspondence.
Know the limits
Different inquiries and scoring models can have different effects. Focus on establishing whether the inquiry is connected to you.
Further reading
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-common-credit-report-errors-that-i-should-look-for-on-my-credit-report-en-313/
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This article shares general tips. It is not legal or money advice for your own situation. Results are different for each person.
