Steps to Take if Someone Steals My Identity
You spend years building your credit only for someone to suddenly steal your personal and financial information. Whether he took out a mortgage in your name, placed unauthorized charges on your credit card, or opened accounts without your permission, you must immediately respond if someone steals your identity. Most identity thieves are career criminals who might implicate you in federal white-collar schemes and destroy your credit.
At Ryan Beasley Law, we know that discovering your identity’s been stolen is overwhelming. That’s why our experienced Greenville identity theft lawyers might handle all necessary reporting and financial recovery efforts on your behalf. We might even defend you against federal or state criminal charges stemming from your stolen personal information.
Reporting Identity Theft and Mitigating Consequences
Protecting your assets is the first step in responding to identity theft. You should immediately contact your bank, mortgage holder, and credit card companies to report the theft and temporarily freeze your accounts. This protects you from further theft and allows you time to review statements and dispute unauthorized transactions. You should seek legal help, however, if the thief opened accounts in your name.
After securing your assets, you should report the theft to all three credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They will place fraud alerts on your account and can freeze any further credit approvals and account activities. You should then report the theft online to the Federal Trade Commission.
Taking these three steps immediately can stop the bleeding, i.e., prevent the identity thief from using or opening further accounts, but it does not restore your credit or provide you with financial compensation. To obtain damages for identity theft and fight against potential criminal charges, you need an experienced identity theft protection attorney in Greenville. Contacting a lawyer immediately after you discover potential identity theft is the best option for preventing further fraud.
Recovering Compensation and Restoring Your Credit After Identity Theft
An attorney can also help you file a police report – including a report to the FBI’s financial division – in cases of serious identity and asset theft. Not only is identity theft a crime, but it also commonly involves serious data breaches and privacy rights violations. Experienced victim’s rights lawyers in Greenville might help you recover financial damages from the offender – if located – and any agency that failed to properly protect your private information, including:
- Bank account numbers
- Passwords and usernames
- Social Security number
- Credit card information
- Private health and biometric data
A local attorney might help you identify the source of the data breach and hold negligent entities or individuals liable for violating federal and state privacy protection laws. Legal professionals also know how to submit the evidence necessary to the credit reporting agencies to help restore your credit.
Connect with a Greenville Identity Theft Recovery Attorney
You cannot hesitate after discovering potential identity theft in Greenville. Take immediate action to prevent further fraud and contact a privacy rights lawyer at Ryan Beasley Law immediately. Our dedicated identity theft recovery team might help restore your credit, protect you from criminal prosecution, and obtain needed compensation for privacy violations. Call 864-756-4204 or contact us online to begin the restoration process.