ID THEFT NEWS: WEEKLY UPDATE
12 million consumers a year become victims of identity theft. The harmful effects of identity theft are life changing and last a lifetime. Victims may not know their identity has been stolen until they receive calls from debt collectors, get denied credit or employment, or find credit report errors.
What can consumers do to protect their identities and credit reputation? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that provides identity theft victims with rights. For example, identity theft victims have the right to request 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) also gives victims of fraud or identity theft the right to dispute credit report errors. Victims may have errors on the credit reports, such as incorrect accounts, names, public records, addresses, date of birth or inquiries. The credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) must conduct a reasonable “reinvestigation” of the information disputed by a consumer. The credit reporting agencies must block fraudulent information in 4 business days if they receive an identity theft report.
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 in federal court all over the country. Here are some of the identity theftstories we are am following:
ALABAMA
Birmingham, Alabama –An Etowah County woman was sentenced this week to almost five years in prison for stealing more than $900,000 from her former employer through fraud and identity theft, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr. . . . . FULL STORY
Federal grand jury indicts North Carolina trio on fraud, identity theft … al.com (blog)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A federal grand jury today indicted three North Carolina residents on charges of access-device fraud and aggravated identity theft after they were found with more than 350 counterfeit debit and credit cards, according to an …
FLORIDA
BBB® Partners to Combat Identity Theft WKRG-TV
In 2012, Florida was the number one state per capita for identity theft. Shredding unneeded sensitive documents keeps them from being useful for identity theft if they are stolen or taken out of the trash. A Javelin Strategy and Research survey found …
Gainesville, Florida – Nearly 200 have called UF so far about possible identity theft
Gainesville Sun Nearly 200 people have called the University of Florida privacy office and call center worried that they are victims of identity theft after Wednesday’s announcement that a former employee had been arrested for his involvement in an identity theft ring …
Jacksonville, Florida – ID theft bill moving through Fla. legislature
WJXT Jacksonville “This gives law enforcement the tools that they desperately need to stop identity theft in Florida,” said Rep. Larry Ahern, the bill’s sponsor. Ahern filed the legislation after a police chief showed him thousands of IDs discovered on shady characters …
Lee County, Florida – Legislation to alleviate pain of identity theft
Wink News We are just days away from the deadline to file your tax returns. But, what happens if someone steals your identity, files it for you and gets away with your tax refund? ID theft and tax refund fraud happens more in Florida than …
OKLAHOMA
ID Theft Blamed for Massive OSU Medical Bill
Fox 28 Kenneth Marshall, 41, has been charged with felony identity theft after police say he’s been receiving medical care under the name of Michael Weatherford at OSU since 2006. They say he filled out medical formed using a Michael Weatherford’s 2006 driver …
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Action Line: ID theft tops list of IRS complaints
Tulsa World – Blank U.S. Treasury checks are seen on an idle press at the Philadelphia Regional Financial Center. The Internal Revenue Service has increased the number of ID theft screening filters to spot fraudulent tax returns before refunds are issued. Associated …
NATIONAL NEWS
IRS Should Help Curb Tax Identity Theft
Wall Street Journal – If the Internal Revenue Service truly wanted to stop identity theft and the accompanying damage to individuals (“Last-Minute Tax Tips; A steep rise in identity theft is only one of the tax traps you need to avoid this year,” Weekend Investor, March 30 …
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 24/7 for a free identity theft case review at 1-800-263-9091
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