How an Identity Theft Attorney Helps Fraud Victims

When you realize your identity has been stolen there are some basic steps you can take to protect yourself financially from further damages. Of course, depending on your specific circumstances, some of the following suggestions may not apply to you:

• Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission
• File a local police report

Credit Report Problems: If you find credit report errors such as accounts you don’t recognize, debts you didn’t incur, or someone else’s information in your credit report:

• Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to notify them about your stolen identity. Reach out to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion directly to request a copy of your report. Or go to annualcreditreport.com to request all three reports.
• Place a fraud alert in your reports.
• Dispute any unfamiliar, unauthorized, or inaccurate information in writing with supporting documents. Keep a copy of anything you send and mail your dispute by certified mail with a Return Receipt Requested.
• Ask the CRAs to block any information related to identity theft.
• Require any creditors to contact you before opening any new lines of credit.

Credit Card or Other Creditor Charges: If you discover charges in your credit card statement that you didn’t authorize, loans that you didn’t apply for, or utility bills for locations you’ve never lived in:

• Contact each of your credit accounts such as credit card companies, cable TV, cell phone provider, and other utility providers.
• Report the identity theft to each creditor, even if that account has not been affected. Close each account that has been compromised. Request a fraud alert on every open account.
• Ask that any unauthorized charges be removed from your accounts and credit reports.
• Change your passwords, PINs, or other identifying information on accounts left open.
• Always follow up in writing. Complete and supply an FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, to report new, unauthorized accounts that were opened with your stolen information.
• Keep track of every conversation you have related to your identity fraud. Follow up every phone call with a written confirmation letter and include documents that prove your claim.

Bank Account Problems: If your personal bank account balance unexpectedly drops, you find transactions or large withdrawals that you didn’t authorize, or ATM transfers you didn’t make:

• Review all bank and other financial institution account statements.
• Immediately notify the bank about any unfamiliar or unauthorized transactions by phone.
• Follow up in writing as soon as possible with copies of your statement (indicate which transactions are disputed) and any supporting documentation of the theft.
• Keep copies of all correspondence, and record the date of any phone calls, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. Include any next steps to take.
• Change your passwords, PINs, etc.

Regardless of which accounts were affected or how the ID theft occurred, these additional steps will also protect you. These steps can build a foundation to help prove what happened in case you need to take legal action in the future.

Keep copies of everything you send to creditors, banks, or credit reporting agencies. Mail all disputes and related information by certified mail with a return receipt requested.
Regularly review your statements, reports, and bills to ensure the ID thief doesn’t strike again.

If you need to work with an identity theft attorney, your success may depend on the first actions you take and the records you keep from the moment you realize what has happened.

When you realize your identity has been stolen there are some basic steps you can take to protect yourself financially from further damages. Of course, depending on your specific circumstances, some of the following suggestions may not apply to you:

• Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission
• File a local police report

Credit Report Problems: If you find credit report errors such as accounts you don’t recognize, debts you didn’t incur, or someone else’s information in your credit report:

• Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to notify them about your stolen identity. Reach out to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion directly to request a copy of your report. Or go to annualcreditreport.com to request all three reports.
• Place a fraud alert in your reports.
• Dispute any unfamiliar, unauthorized, or inaccurate information in writing with supporting documents. Keep a copy of anything you send and mail your dispute by certified mail with a Return Receipt Requested.
• Ask the CRAs to block any information related to identity theft.
• Require any creditors to contact you before opening any new lines of credit.

Credit Card or Other Creditor Charges: If you discover charges in your credit card statement that you didn’t authorize, loans that you didn’t apply for, or utility bills for locations you’ve never lived in:

• Contact each of your credit accounts such as credit card companies, cable TV, cell phone provider, and other utility providers.
• Report the identity theft to each creditor, even if that account has not been affected. Close each account that has been compromised. Request a fraud alert on every open account.
• Ask that any unauthorized charges be removed from your accounts and credit reports.
• Change your passwords, PINs, or other identifying information on accounts left open.
• Always follow up in writing. Complete and supply an FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, to report new, unauthorized accounts that were opened with your stolen information.
• Keep track of every conversation you have related to your identity fraud. Follow up every phone call with a written confirmation letter and include documents that prove your claim.

Bank Account Problems: If your personal bank account balance unexpectedly drops, you find transactions or large withdrawals that you didn’t authorize, or ATM transfers you didn’t make:

• Review all bank and other financial institution account statements.
• Immediately notify the bank about any unfamiliar or unauthorized transactions by phone.
• Follow up in writing as soon as possible with copies of your statement (indicate which transactions are disputed) and any supporting documentation of the theft.
• Keep copies of all correspondence, and record the date of any phone calls, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. Include any next steps to take.
• Change your passwords, PINs, etc.

Regardless of which accounts were affected or how the ID theft occurred, these additional steps will also protect you. These steps can build a foundation to help prove what happened in case you need to take legal action in the future.

Keep copies of everything you send to creditors, banks, or credit reporting agencies. Mail all disputes and related information by certified mail with a return receipt requested.
Regularly review your statements, reports, and bills to ensure the ID thief doesn’t strike again.

If you need to work with an identity theft attorney, your success may depend on the first actions you take and the records you keep from the moment you realize what has happened.