ID THEFT NEWS – WEEKLY UPDATE
Over 12 million consumers a year become victims of identity theft. Identity theft victims may not know they are a victim until they receive collection calls or see discover credit report errors. debt collection calls or letters.
What can you do to protect you identity and credit reputation? Federal law provides identity theft victims with rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 15 U.S.C. §§1681, et seq. For example, identity theft victims have the right to order two (2) free credit reports every 12 months and can place a fraud alert (90 day and extended 7 year) on their credit file.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives identity theft victims the right to dispute credit report errors due to fraud. The incorrect information may include accounts, name variations, public records and addresses. The nationwide consumer reporting agencies (such as Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) must conduct a reasonable “reinvestigation” of the information disputed by the consumer. The credit agencies must block fraudulent information within 4 business days if they receive an identity theft report from you.
Download your free identity theft affidavit HERE.
If the credit reporting agencies break the law, then consumers have the right to sue them in federal court for actual and statutory damages, plus attorneys’ fees. Micah Adkins represents victims of identity theft across the country. Here are some of the identity theft stories I am following across the country.
ALABAMA
Birmingham Alabama – Alabama grand jury indicts 3 NC residents in ID theft Chattanooga Times Free Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Three North Carolina residents are charged in what federal prosecutors call an identity theft ring operating in Alabama. Authorities say 38-year-old Terrance Lavon Campbell; 40-year-old Renee Charlene Pointer and 44-year-old …
Montgomery Alabama – Three River Region residents sentenced in identity theft, tax fraud scheme al.com (blog) MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Three area residents were sentenced for their roles in an identity theft and tax fraud scheme in federal court, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama released. Mary Bennett, of Wetumpka, Narendrakumar …
FLORIDA
Pensacola, Florida – Florida Identity Theft WEAR “People are filing their income tax returns and they have been rejected because they said we’ve already paid you and it’s a major scam on people and your identity needs to be protected and we need to do what’s necessary to make sure that this does not …
NORTH CAROLINA
Jacksonville, North Carolina – Identity Theft – Alex J. Stevenson Jacksonville Daily News Alex J. Stevenson, 26, of Cherrywood Court , was charged March 23 by Jacksonville Police Department with identity theft, unlawful obtaining of credit cards, larceny, possession of stolen goods and six counts of obtaining property under false pretense.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Police searching for identity theft/auto theft suspect kfor.com OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Police Auto Theft Investigators are asking for your help identifying a man suspected of stealing people’s identity to sell stolen cars. Edward Stupka is the latest victim in this elaborate plot. Stupka went in to update …
Tulsa Oklahoma – Identity theft can happen with help from accomplices within your own bank kjrh.com Identity theft can happen to anyone, and sometimes it comes from where you least expect it. “They were hitting my home equity line,” said fraud victim Paul Agne. “They got $10,000 out one time, $12,000 the other time.” Agne is talking about the thieves …
SOUTH CAROLINA
Deadline approaching for free credit monitoring, identity-theft protection Travelers Rest Tribune COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents of South Carolina have until Sunday, March 31, 2013, to sign up for one free year of credit monitoring and identity-theft protection. The service, ProtectMyID from Experian, is available to any resident who has filed a South …
TENNESSEE
Chattanooga, Tennessee – West Tennessee Town Falls Victim To Identity Theft The Chattanoogan Identity theft is a problem for many individuals, but even cities can fall victim. The West Tennessee town of Henning learned that when someone tried to use two counterfeit checks issued in the town’s name last year. The banks refused to honor those …
NATIONAL NEWS
FTC: Identity Theft Top Complaint Once More Blogger News Network (blog) Last year, 2012, marks the first year in which the FTC received more than two million complaints overall, and 369,132, or 18 percent, were related to identity theft—an increase of 30% over 2011. Of those, more than 43 percent related to tax- or wage …
Supreme Court’s John Roberts Has Credit Card Number Stolen DailyFinance Roberts isn’t the first high-profile Washington figure to become the victim of identity theft lately — earlier this month, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and the director of the FBI all had their credit reports stolen and posted …
New law aims at child ID theft ABC Action News Statistics Report. Published on Mar 28, 2013. State officials say one in every 10 children falls victim to identity theft, and local law enforcement fears that number will rise. A measure making its way thru Tallahassee could help parents protect their …
Are you an identity theft victim? Do you have credit report errors? Have the credit bureaus “verified” fraudulent information and refused to delete the items from your credit reports?
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumers have the right to dispute credit report errors. The credit reporting agencies must block information from appearing in your credit report that is the result of identity theft. The credit bureaus must block the information within 4 business days of receipt of an identity theft report. Federal law gives you the right to sue the credit bureaus if they fail to perform a reasonable investigation or refuse to investigate your credit report disputes.
Contact us for a free case review 24/7 at 1-800-263-9091 for a free case review.
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