ID THEFT NEWS: WEEKLY UPDATE
Fair Credit Reporting Act Lawyers Help Identity Theft Victims
Over 12 million people an identity theft victim every year. Identity theft changes lives forever! Victims may not even know their identity has been stolen until they receive phone calls from debt collectors 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 you do to protect your identity and credit report? The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides identity theft victims with rights under federal law. For example, identity theft victims have the right to request two (2) free credit reports every 12 months. Also, fraud victims can add a fraud alert (90 day and extended 7 year) to their credit files with Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. Consumers also have the right to dispute credit report errors.
Liability is triggered under the FCRA when the credit bureaus receive a dispute from a consumer. The furnisher of the information (i.e., creditor) does not have any civil liability until the credit bureaus notify the furnisher of the dispute. In other words, in order to be able to sue the credit bureaus, debt collectors or creditors, consumers should always send their dispute to Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.
Once the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) receive a consumer dispute, they must conduct a reasonable “re-investigation.” 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. You may be entitled to 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 maintain offices in Alabama and Georgia and 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
Dothan, AL – Identity Theft Cases On The Rise WTVY, Dothan
For your identity to be stolen, and for Headland police, these cases are becoming all too common. For the first time they have seen extreme cases where a person is caught with 5 or more id’s. Investigator Aaron Kincaid said, “Two trafficking of stolen …
Montgomery, AL – Montgomery postal worker found guilty of identity theft, fraud and embezzlement al.com (blog)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A Montgomery postal worker has been found guilty of fraud, identity theft and embezzlement, according to George L. Beck’s Office. Vernon Harrison was found guilty of one count of conspiring to file false claims, eight counts of …
FLORIDA
Miami, FL – Fla. man sentenced in ID theft involving college MiamiHerald.com
MIAMI — A South Florida man has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison in an identity theft and tax fraud case involving names stolen from a community college. The sentence was imposed on 29-year-old Charlton Escarmant of Miami, …
Tampa, FL – Attorney: Identity theft suspect was careless, not a thief Tbo.com
Thomas said a friend of Wilson’s, who is in prison for selling crack cocaine, will testify that Wilson was buying identity information for use in tax fraud. Trombley said the witness wasn’t friends with Wilson and has a long criminal records and other …
MISSISSIPPI
Jackson, MS – Authorities Warn of Identity Theft Scam WTOK
Jackson, Mississippi Authorities say a man is impersonating a Hinds County sheriff’s deputy to steal people’s identities. U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Hinds County Sheriff Tyrone Lewis sent a news release Friday warning the public about the scam.
OKLAHOMA
Tulsa, OK – Pair plead guilty in federal identity-theft case Tulsa World … are demanding answers after State Superintendent Janet Barresi faulted local school … ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer. 10 hours ago. View All. Pair plead guilty in federal identity-theft case. By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer on Jul 9, 2013, at …
TEXAS
Texas among top states in ID theft Kansas Watchdog
By Jon Cassidy | Watchdog.org. HOUSTON — Texas is among the top states in the country for identity theft, according to a report by the Federal Trade Commission. The state ranks seventh in the nation in cases of identity theft per capita, with 108.6 …
NATIONAL NEWS
ID Theft Affects 10% of Children Infosecurity Magazine
While identity theft is a well-known and well-feared issue, the mainstream concern tends to revolve around the theft of financial data, or the use of social security numbers and other sensitive information to set up bogus accounts – i.e., issues that …
Do 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 to Equifax, Experian or Trans Union? Have the credit bureaus “verified” information on your credit report that does not belong to you and refused to delete the information?
Contact us 24/7 for a free case review at 1-800-263-9091.
The call is free and so is the consultation.
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