Contact Us for a Free Consultation 414.377.0515

What to Do If You're a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft can be a distressing experience, but taking swift action can help mitigate the damage. This guide outlines the steps you should take if you suspect you've been a victim of identity theft.

1. Contact Your Financial Institutions

  • Notify your banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions immediately.
  • Ask them to place fraud alerts or freeze accounts if necessary.
  • Report any unauthorized transactions.

2. Review Your Credit Reports

  • Request a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
  • Check for any unfamiliar accounts or suspicious activity.

3. Place a Fraud Alert or Security Freeze

  • Contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit report. This makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.

4. File a Police Report

  • Report the identity theft to your local law enforcement agency. You'll need a police report for some recovery efforts.

5. File a Complaint with the FTC

  • Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. This will help create a record of the crime and assist in investigations.

6. Monitor Your Accounts Closely

  • Continue to monitor your bank accounts, credit card statements, and credit reports for any unusual activity.

7. Dispute Fraudulent Charges

  • Contact creditors directly to dispute any unauthorized charges.

8. Order Recovery Assistance

  • Through IdentityTheft.gov, you can order a free recovery assistance letter to help you contact financial institutions and credit bureaus.

9. Protect Yourself from Future Theft

  • Consider using a credit monitoring service.
  • Shred sensitive documents.
  • Be cautious about sharing personal information online or over the phone.

Remember: Acting quickly is crucial in minimizing the impact of identity theft. If you feel overwhelmed, consider seeking assistance from a credit counseling agency or identity theft recovery specialist.

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.

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.

We offer free online scheduling for appointments. 

CONTACT ME TODAY

The DeLadurantey Law Office, LLC is committed to answering your questions about Vehicle Repo's, Credit Report/Identity Theft, Auto Fraud, and Debt Collection Abuse law issues in Wisconsin.

We offer free consultation and look forward to discussing your case. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

DeLadurantey Law Office, LLC
Mon: 08:00am - 05:00pm
Tue: 08:00am - 05:00pm
Wed: 08:00am - 05:00pm
Thu: 08:00am - 05:00pm
Fri: 08:00am - 05:00pm

Menu