Understanding Your Rights as an Identity Theft Victim
Identity theft is a distressing crime that can have far-reaching consequences. Knowing your rights as a victim is crucial in protecting yourself and recovering from the ordeal. This page provides an overview of your rights and steps you can take to address identity theft.
What Are Your Rights as an Identity Theft Victim?
- Right to Dispute Inaccurate Information: If fraudulent information appears on your credit report, you have the right to dispute it with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
- Right to Place a Fraud Alert or Security Freeze: You can place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit report, which makes it more difficult for someone to open new accounts in your name.
- Right to Obtain a Free Credit Report: You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus annually. Consider requesting reports more frequently if you suspect identity theft.
- Right to File a Police Report: Reporting the crime to your local law enforcement agency is essential for documenting the theft and potentially initiating a criminal investigation.
- Right to File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC maintains a database of identity theft complaints and works to protect consumers.
- Right to Recover Financial Losses: Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover financial losses through insurance claims, legal action, or dispute resolution processes.
Steps to Take After Identity Theft
- Contact Your Financial Institutions: Notify your banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions about the identity theft. Close any accounts that have been compromised.
- Review Your Credit Reports: Obtain copies of your credit reports from all three credit bureaus to identify any fraudulent activity.
- Place a Fraud Alert or Security Freeze: Consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit reports to prevent new accounts from being opened.
- File a Police Report: Report the crime to your local law enforcement agency.
- File a Complaint with the FTC: Complete an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Monitor Your Accounts Closely: Continue to monitor your credit reports and bank statements for any suspicious activity.
Additional Resources
- IdentityTheft.gov: Provides comprehensive information and resources for identity theft victims.
- Federal Trade Commission: Offers guidance on protecting yourself from identity theft and taking action if it occurs.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Provides information on financial recovery and dispute resolution.
We take a creative approach to your problems as a consumer. Each case has a unique set of facts. We evaluate those facts to figure out what would be your best option. While some solutions may be obvious, others are not. We really enjoy talking with people and explaining their legal rights and options. If you have a financial roadblock that you need help with, we are just a call away.
If you aren't sure if we could help or not, that's okay. It's free to have a consultation with us. Why wonder if your rights are being trampled on? Let's talk about what happened and if there's something we can do to help. When in doubt call – we have seen “one of everything.” And if we haven't seen your exact scenario, we'd like to. New cases are interesting! Go ahead and give us a call.