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WHAT DO I DO IF I AM A VICTIM OF ID THEFT?

Victims of identity (ID) theft can have a hard time getting and keeping credit.  Often, creditors will deny or reduce credit limits based on information in your credit reports from Equifax, Experian or Trans Union because of accounts opened by an identity thief.

After you have discovered accounts in your credit report opened by an identity thief, the Federal trade Commission recommends you take the following steps:

  1. Place a fraud alert with one of the CRAs (initial[1] and extended[2] fraud alerts);
  2. Close the accounts that are known or thought to have been tampered with or opened by an identity thief;
  3. File a ID Theft Complaint online or by telephone with the Federal Trade Commission;
  4. File a ID Theft Report with your local police department; and
  5. Dispute each unauthorized account being reported on your credit report to each of the CRAs, and include supporting documentation (such as FTC ID Theft Complaint and ID Theft Police Report).

If you are a victim of identity theft, you may have additional rights under the federal law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), or Alabama state law.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

[1] With an initial fraud alert, potential creditors must use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name.  When you place an initial fraud alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to order one free credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.

[2] With an extended fraud alert, potential creditors must actually contact you, or meet with you in person, before they issue you credit.  When you place an extended alert on your credit report, you’re entitled to two free credit reports within twelve months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. In addition, the consumer reporting companies will remove your name from marketing lists for pre-screened credit offers for five years unless you ask them to put your name back on the list before then.

If you have been a victim of identity theft, then you need to contact identity theft lawyer Micah Adkins for a free consultation.