Identity Theft

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission and has become a serious problem in the United States.    With as many as 9 million Americans having their identities stolen each year, protecting yourself is more important than ever.  

It is recommended you monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis which may limit the damage caused by identity theft.   Unfortunately, many learn their identity has been stolen after the damage has been done.

If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you should check your credit reports, notify your creditors, and dispute any unauthorized transactions.   If you discover you are a victim of identity theft, you should file a police report with your local law enforcement agency.  This may entitle you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information.  A report could be used to block fraudulent information that results from identity theft and make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports.   A report could also prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft and is necessary to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft.  You should file an ID Theft Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report.  The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure it includes the detail required.

If you want to get more information on how to protect yourself or are a victim of identity theft, you will find more information on the Federal Trade Commission website which is linked in the area below.