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5 Steps to Protect Yourself Against ID Theft

Here are five steps to protect yourself against identity theft

In an era defined by digital connectivity, safeguarding your identity against the relentless tide of cybercrime is paramount. Identity theft and fraud pose tangible threats, capable of wreaking havoc on your financial stability and personal well-being. In this digital landscape, where the exchange of personal information is ubiquitous, vigilance and proactive measures are essential to thwart the advances of cunning fraudsters. 

1. Comprehensive Tenant Screening

If you’re engaged in property rental, exercise diligence by conducting meticulous background checks on prospective tenants. Verify potential tenants identity through reliable channels. This will help to mitigate the risk of housing criminals or fraudulent applications.

2. Report Suspicious Activities

Swift action is imperative upon encountering any semblance of fraudulent behavior. Whether it’s the discovery of counterfeit checks or suspicious financial transactions, promptly report such incidents to law enforcement authorities. Complete an ID Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission. Quick intervention can curtail the nefarious activities of fraudsters and safeguard your financial interests.

3. Active Monitoring of Financial Accounts

Embrace a proactive approach to financial security by regularly reviewing your bank and credit accounts for any unauthorized transactions. Prompt detection of fraudulent charges will help you to quickly address unauthorized charges and minimize the impact of identity theft.

4. Regularly Review Your Credit Reports

Exercise your right to access free credit reports from the three major consumer reporting agencies – Equifax®, ExperianTM, and Trans Union®. You can access and review your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com  This will enable you to detect any credit report errors or unauthorized inquiries that may indicate that you are a victim of identity theft.

5. Stay Abreast of Emerging Threats

Knowledge is your most potent weapon against the machinations of identity thieves. Stay informed about the latest trends and tactics employed by cybercriminals to perpetrate identity theft. Adopt robust security practices such as employing complex and unique passwords, refraining from divulging sensitive information online, and exercising caution in navigating potential phishing attempts.

By adhering to these proactive measures and cultivating a heightened sense of awareness, you can fortify your defenses against the threat of identity theft. Remember, in the digital realm, vigilance is not merely an option – it’s a necessity. Safeguarding your identity is not just about protecting your finances; it’s also about preserving your peace of mind and reclaiming control over your digital footprint. Be proactive, stay informed, and empower yourself to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and resilience.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an FCRA Attorney?

The Adkins Firm represents clients under the FCRA and other consumer protection statutes. We do not charge our clients for a case consultation or an upfront attorney fee to begin our legal work to help our clients. The consultation is completely free. We often use much of the time to educate our clients about the FCRA, including rights and remedies available to consumers who have credit report errors. 

Likewise, after the consultation, our clients will only pay an attorney fee if we recover monetary relief on their behalf. That means if we do not recover money damages for our clients, then our clients will not receive a bill from us for our time or expenses. This is known in the legal industry as a contingency arrangement because the lawyer’s fees are contingent on a money recovery. No recovery, then no fee. 

We can represent our clients on a contingency basis because when congress wrote the FCRA, it included a one-sided fee shifting provision. The federal law provides that our FCRA attorneys can recover their reasonable attorneys’ fees if we successfully prosecute our clients’ claims and receive a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. See 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681n and o.  

Contact us for a free case review at (214) 974-4030.

Thousands of consumers every year file a lawsuit against Equifax®, ExperianTM, and Trans Union® to clear their name and remove errors from their credit reports. FCRA attorney Micah Adkins has filed hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of consumers under the FCRA in federal courts across the U.S.  According to Mr. Adkins, “I have represented hundreds of consumers in federal court with credit report errors who come to me with a sense of helplessness because the false information is ‘verified’ repeatedly by the credit bureaus and remains on their reports.”

Hire an Experienced FCRA Attorney

We recommend contacting The Adkins Firm before making a dispute with the credit bureaus. Working with a skilled and experienced FCRA attorney streamlines the process from step one through to filing a lawsuit (if that ends up being necessary to protect your rights). If the credit bureaus verify inaccurate information on your credit reports or refuse to delete disputed items of information, having a trusted legal resource, like The Adkins Firm legal team, in your corner will benefit you exponentially when it comes time to take the credit bureaus to task and hold them accountable for the harm caused to your reputation.

What do you have to lose?  

The FCRA includes a statute of limitations that may bar you from recovering for your damages. The statute of limitations under the FCRA period is 2-5 years. 15 U.S.C. § 1681p. Also, the statute of limitations begins to run when the consumer discovers the violation. Don’t wait to speak with our FCRA attorneys for a free consultation and preserve your legal claims before they expire. 

Our Firm

The Adkins Firm represents consumers who have errors on background and tenant screening reports under the FCRA. We help our clients clear their names with the credit bureaus, banks, and collection agencies. 

Do you have errors on a credit report?  Have you disputed the error and the inaccurate information was verified by the credit bureau that the disputed information is accurate? If you answered yes, then you may have a claim under the FCRA. 

Contact us for a free case review with one of our FCRA attorneys at (214) 974-4030.