ID THEFT NEWS: WEEKLY UPDATE
Fair Credit Reporting Act Lawyers Help Identity Theft Victims
Over 12 million people an identity theft victim every year. The harmful effects of identity theft are life changing and last a lifetime. Victims may not even know their identity has been stolen until they receive debt collection calls for debts they do not owe. Others may discover they are an identity theft victim when they are denied credit or cannot get a job because of false background check information.
What can consumers do to protect their identities and credit report? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that provides identity theft victims with rights. 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 their credit reports, such as incorrect accounts, names, public records, addresses, date of birth or inquiries.
Once the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) receive a consumer dispute, they must conduct a reasonable “reinvestigation.” The credit reporting agencies must block fraudulent information in 4 business days if they receive an identity theft report.
Download your free identity theft report 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 attorney’s fees. Micah Adkins represents victims of identity theft in federal court all over the country. Our firm includes lawyers licensed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. We can meet with you in person or by phone for a free consultation.
Here are some of the identity theft stories we are following:
ALABAMA
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham woman pleads guilty to identity theft scam – WBRC.com
WBRC
Investigators say Daphne Tate, 42, was part of a scheme that involved recruiting homeless people to cash fraudulent checks. Tate pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, possessing a business check stolen from the U.S. mail, and possessing a …
Homewood, Alabama
Homewood police arrest woman for fraud, identity theft – WBRC.com
WBRC
Homewood police have arrested a woman in connection to multiple crimes including identity theft, fraud and burglary. Homewood officers arrested 31-year-old Miranda Dawley of Birmingham on Tuesday, April 30. She is charged with two fraudulent uses of …
FLORIDA
Naples, Florida
Keep Your Identity: Remember to check your free credit report at least once …
Naples Daily News
Have you ever performed the basics of early detection of identity theft, something you can and should be doing for yourself three times a year? No? Now is a good time to start. After you read this article go over to your computer and, like the …
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Florida woman pleads guilty in St. Louis to federal charges of ID theft
The Republic
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Missouri said in a release Monday that 28-year-old Tania Henderson, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, pleaded guilty in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of public money and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
LOUISIANA
Lafayette, Louisiana
One Acadiana Family Experienced Identity Theft First-Hand
KATC Lafayette News
Imagine going to buy a house and finding out you already own a house, plus a car and multiple loans but you are in possession of none it. We’re talking about identity theft and that’s exactly what happened to one Acadiana family. Gerrad and Donna Green …
MISSISSIPPI
Jackson, Mississippi
Clinton woman to serve time for identity theft
Jackson Clarion Ledger
Hinds County Circuit Court Judge William A. Gowan sentenced Bilbo to serve 10 years for identity theft with five suspended and four years post release supervision. She was also ordered to pay $13,825.35 in restitution to the victims, $1,000 to the …
NORTH CAROLINA
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Identity theft – Eric James Lent
Jacksonville Daily News
Eric James Lent, 27, of Lucky Street in Sneads Ferry, was charged April 25 by Onslow County Sheriff’s Office with two counts of identity theft, felony conspiracy, two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, obtaining property by …
Yadkinville, North Carolina
Yadkin County deputies charge man with identity theft
myfox8.com
YADKINVILLE, N.C. — Yadkin County deputies arrested a man accused of identity theft involving a victim living out of state. Jose Luis Garcia-Rodriguez, 32, of Yadkinville, was arrested and charged with 25 counts each of identity theft and obtaining …
SOUTH CAROLINA
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
SC looking at expanding ID theft protection for taxpayers
WBTW – Myrtle Beach and Florence SC
South Carolina could be expanding the free identity theft protection that it offers, in response to the theft of millions of taxpayers’ personal information from the Department of Revenue last year. At the state Budget and Control Board meeting …
TEXAS
Brownsville, Texas
Police: Quick action can combat identity theft
Brownsville Herald
Her quick actions prevented the fraudulent purchase, and authorities say anyone who could be the victim of theft should act just as quickly to protect assets and information. “Everyone should be aware of what they are doing with their identity nowadays …
Dallas, Texas
NY officials: ID theft ring stole from victims who used credit cards at …
Dallas Morning News (blog)
New York officials said alleged members of an identity theft ring used an electronic encoder and other tools inside a Manhattan hotel room to steal money from nearly 400 people who used credit and debit cards at a Mesquite gas station. The four …
Tyler, Texas
Tyler police charge 21 in identity theft investigation [VIDEO]
Tyler Morning Telegraph
The suspects were going online and obtaining multiple loans, using the victims’ identities, and have the funds transferred into the suspect’s bank accounts that they had set up. The victims were not aware of the fictitious loans in their names until …
Tyler, Texas
Victims of identity theft shocked
KLTV
The wanted list for suspects involved in a huge East Texas identity theft ring is now down to five. Tyler police identified 21 suspects who they say took out loans in other people’s names, then had that money transferred into their bank account …
NATIONAL NEWS
Epidemic of ID theft hits seniors
MSN Money
When it comes to identity thieves vs. the Internal Revenue Service, the crooks have the edge. For now. That was the consensus at a recent congressional hearing examining what the Senate Special Committee on Aging calls an epidemic of identity theft …
When a wife commits identity theft
Eagle-Tribune
A wife takes out a credit card in her husband’s name without his knowledge, and they get divorced, can the husband claim identity theft? Absolutely! Unless they have power of attorney, people who open an account in a name other than their own have …
Why data theft poses a big risk to small businesses
USA TODAY
After all, many owners think, computer hackers and identity thieves only target big corporations. In fact most small businesses in the USA already have been exposed, or likely will be soon. The loss or theft of private information can be expensive …
Do any of these stories sound familiar to you? Are you an identity theft victim? Do you have credit report errors? Have you disputed the credit report errors? Have the credit bureaus “verified” fraudulent information on your credit report and refused to delete the information from your report?
Contact us 24/7 for a free case review at 1-800-263-9091.
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