What Is Identity Theft?
We have all heard the term “identify theft,” but do we know what it means? Identity theft occurs when a criminal accesses personal identifiable information for use in committing fraud or gaining some other type of financial benefit at another person’s expense. Personal identifiable information includes a person’s name, birthday, address, social security number, employment and educational history, and much more.
Criminals use personal data for a variety of purposes, including opening new credit card accounts, making fraudulent purchases, logging into private accounts, opening new phone and utility accounts, changing billing addresses on existing accounts, and even obtaining a fraudulent driver’s license or ID card in someone else’s name.
One-third of adults in the United States have been victims of identity theft, which is twice the global average. In 2017, over one million children in the U.S. were victims of identity theft. Children are increasingly becoming victims of criminals using their social security numbers to open accounts in their names, ruining their credit before they even turn 18. Even more alarming is the fact that one in five identity theft victims will experience it more than once.
Contact Atlas Consumer Law today to meet with our identity theft lawyer in Chicago!
How Does Identity Theft Happen and How Can I Prevent It?
In the age of the internet, we are all susceptible to having our information stolen. Unfortunately, the information criminals seek for identity theft is the same information many businesses store and transfer online and on servers. The average consumer’s information is stored on dozens to hundreds of servers worldwide.
A common cause of identity theft is a data breach. This occurs when private information is somehow leaked due to hacking, unauthorized access, employee error, or negligence. Data breaches can occur in any industry, including business, healthcare, banking, and education. One of the most serious data breaches was the Equifax breach in 2017, which exposed the personal identifiable information of 145 million people.
Another common method for criminals to steal personal information is through WiFi. Online shopping is popular for convenience, but if you shop on public or unprotected WiFi, your purchase could cost you much more than your cart. Credit card fraud committed online is 81% more common than point-of-sale fraud (where a thief can access the physical credit card). The safest way to shop online is on password-protected WiFi. You should avoid logging into any of your accounts on public WiFi, as it is easy for hackers to access your computer and steal login information through these networks.
When using the internet, it is also essential to pay attention to whether or not websites are encrypted. Encrypted websites ensure that any hackers “eavesdropping” on your internet connection cannot tell what you are doing on the site. You should never fill in any personal information on an unencrypted website, as they are not secure and may put you at risk of stealing your information. There are several ways to tell if a website is encrypted or unencrypted. Most web browsers will display a locked symbol next to the URL at the top of your page if the website is secure and an unlocked symbol if the website is unsecure. Another way to tell that a website is secure is if it starts with “HTTPS,” which stands for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.”
Thieves are not limited to using the internet to access private information. Criminals also access personal data through dumpster diving and mail theft, which involve physically stealing bills, statements, and receipts from trash cans and mailboxes. To avoid these types of theft, it is best to shred documents with personally identifiable information and use a locked mailbox if possible.
Additionally, thieves steal purses and wallets to gain access to credit cards, loyalty and rewards cards, and driver’s licenses. These items can be used to steal retirement benefits, access bank accounts, and even obtain employment or pose as a different person when being questioned by law enforcement.
Shoulder surfing and credit card skimming are other ways criminals steal information without using the internet. Shoulder surfing occurs when a person stands close by and watches someone enter their PIN at an ATM or during a sales transaction. The easiest way to avoid this is by covering the PIN pad as you enter your PIN. Credit card skimming occurs when criminals install a device known as a “skimmer” onto an ATM or card reader. The skimmer then steals people’s credit card numbers and PINs as they use the ATM or card reader. Gas station card readers are a common place for criminals to install skimmers.
Phone scams are another common method used to access personal information. These scams involve phone calls that ask a person to verify personal information like their birthday or social security number. Often, criminals pose as a bank or utility company calling to warn people of suspicious activity on their accounts. Then, the criminal asks the person to verify personal information. If you receive a suspicious phone call, the best thing to do is ask who is calling, hang up, and then look up the company’s phone number on your bill or statement. Call their actual phone number to determine if there is any suspicious activity on your account.
Phishing and other email scams are very similar to phone scams, except they occur online. Scam emails may ask you to verify a purchase and provide a link to a page asking you to fill in personal identifiable information. These emails often appear to come from a well-known retailer or bank. Instead of clicking links or attachments from suspicious emails, it is better to log into your bank account through your banking app or website to determine if any fraudulent activity has taken place on your account.
How Will I Know If My Identity Has Been Stolen?
A study by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) found that criminals acted on stolen personal data within 9 minutes of obtaining it. Therefore, it is important to be diligent in determining whether your data has been put at risk.
If you receive unfamiliar bills or statements in the mail, it could be a sign that someone has stolen your identity and opened an account in your name. If you stop receiving bills or statements you normally receive, it could also be a sign that your information has been stolen. Criminals who obtain your data can log into your existing accounts and change the billing address so that your bills and statements are sent to them. This allows them to access additional information from the bill.
Additionally, your information may be compromised if you receive phone calls from creditors or collectors attempting to collect on debts for purchases you did not make. You should regularly check your bank statements for suspicious purchases, as this is an easy way to determine if your account has fraudulent purchases.
If your claims or applications are being rejected at a higher rate than usual, this could be another sign that someone has accessed your data and used it fraudulently, resulting in negative reporting on your credit reports.
Receiving a new credit card in the mail when you did not request one or not receiving a new one after you did request one are both signs that your information has been compromised. If either of these scenarios happens, contact your bank immediately.
What Should I Do if My Identity Is Stolen?
If you discover that your identity has been stolen, you must take immediate action. First, you must call the fraud department for each of your accounts to notify them of the situation. Next, you should place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Once these steps have been taken, you should contact your local police department and file a police report to document the situation. Keep a copy of the police report, as you will need it later. Finally, change your account's login information and PINs, as they may have been compromised.
How Can We Help?
Did you know that identity theft victims often pay out-of-pocket expenses that are never reimbursed? It can be tedious and confusing to navigate the process of correcting the effects of a stolen identity. Furthermore, it creates added stress and inconvenience to the lives of the victims. Retaining a law firm experienced in handling identity theft cases is best.
Atlas Consumer Law will handle your identity theft case at no cost. The process can take over a year on your own, and even then, the credit reporting bureaus may not correct the false information on your credit reports. Atlas Consumer Law has years of experience and a team of lawyers you can rely on.
Atlas Consumer Law will assist you in sending disputes to the credit reporting agencies. The big three credit reporting agencies are Equifax Information Services, LLC (“Equifax”), Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (“Experian”), and TransUnion, LLC (“TransUnion”). As stated above, you must keep a copy of the police report outlining the circumstances of your identity theft, which will be submitted along with your disputes. Once the agencies receive your disputes, they must contact the companies who initially reported the disputed information. At that point, the original reporter must review its records to determine whether the information is accurately reported or needs deletion or modification.
Unfortunately, inaccurate credit reporting is often not resolved through the dispute process. Luckily, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) is a federal law that protects consumers by ensuring the information in their credit reports is accurate, private, and fair. The FCRA regulates how credit reporting agencies obtain, access, utilize, and share the data in consumer reports.
The FCRA requires credit reporting agencies and creditors to correct inaccurate or incomplete information on consumers’ credit reports. If a credit reporting agency or creditor fails to comply with the FCRA, Atlas Consumer Law can file suit on your behalf to hold them accountable for their violations of the law. Once again, we will assist you at no cost to you. We get paid by the credit bureaus if they violate the FCRA, and you may collect statutory damages of up to $1,000 or any out-of-pocket actual damages you may have.
Atlas Consumer Law has a team of experienced attorneys, paralegals, and support staff specifically trained in assisting consumers with correcting inaccurate information on their credit reports. Here at Atlas, we understand how stressful the credit repair process can be for identity theft victims. We understand you have been the victim of a crime that creates undue inconvenience and stress. It is our pleasure to lift a weight off our client’s shoulders by ensuring they do not have to navigate this tricky process alone. We will advocate for you every step of the way.
Contact Our Chicago Identity Theft Attorney Today
Navigating the complexities of the aftermath of identity theft demands expert assistance. At Atlas Consumer Law, our seasoned team of attorneys offers invaluable support to victims nationwide. We specialize in correcting credit report inaccuracies from identity theft, shouldering the legal burden at no cost to the victim. With a commitment to providing comprehensive solutions, we stand ready to be your legal partner in reclaiming financial stability. If you are grappling with the repercussions of identity theft or credit reporting errors, Atlas Consumer Law will guide you through the process with expertise and unwavering support.
We assist consumers nationwide and are A+ Rated by the Better Business Bureau®. Several of our team members have been honored as Super Lawyers®. Our experienced team has assisted consumers for years. We are the firm to call when you need legal help with identity theft and credit reporting errors. At Atlas Consumer Law, you can find a comprehensive solution for identity theft, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and creditor harassment.
