Dealing with fraudulent criminal records resulting from identity theft
What consequences can victims of identity theft face?
Damaged credit: If an identity thief steals your Social Security number (SSN), opens new accounts in your name and never pays, it could ruin your credit history. Not only can this impact your ability to get credit, but it can also hurt your job prospects and increase your auto and homeowners insurance premiums.
Can you ever fully recover from identity theft?
On average, it can take hours over six months to undo identity theft. The recovery process may involve working with the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert; reviewing your credit reports to pinpoint fraudulent activity; and reporting the theft.
What is a valid response to identity theft?
Contacting the companies and banks where you know identity fraud occurred. Reporting the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Filing a report of the identity theft with local law enforcement.
What are the 3 types of identity theft?
The types of identity theft they may face are the same as anyone else: financial identity theft, tax identity theft and medical identity theft, for instance.
Do Police Investigate identity theft?
The police need to confirm your identity, and requesting photo identification is an initial step to verify who you are. A government-issued photo ID can include a valid driver’s license or passport, which you will submit to the police as you file the identity theft report.
Does identity theft affect your credit score?
Unfortunately, being a victim of identity theft means your credit scores may be negatively impacted. Thieves could open new lines of credit or credit cards in your name — and fail to pay the bills.
What is the most common method used to steal your identity?
The most common way an identity thief can acquire information from a person is from stealing their purse or wallet and an identity thief may take a person’s personal information from the internet.
What are the first signs of identity theft?
9 Signs of Identity Theft
- Unexplained charges or withdrawals. …
- Medical bills for doctors you haven’t visited. …
- New credit cards you didn’t apply for. …
- Errors on your credit report. …
- Collection notices or calls for unknown debt. …
- Your credit card or application for credit is denied. …
- Missing mail or email.
What two types of information do identity thieves target?
This information includes your name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), address, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, phone number, and passwords.
How do I check to see if someone is using my Social Security number?
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
How do criminals get your personal information?
Highlights: There are a number of ways identity thieves may obtain your personal information. Fraudsters may dig through mail or trash in search of credit card or bank statements. Unsecured web sites or public Wi-Fi may allow identity thieves to access your information electronically.
What are four types of identity theft crimes?
The four types of identity theft include medical, criminal, financial and child identity theft. Medical identity theft occurs when individuals identify themselves as another to procure free medical care.
Can I report identity theft to the FBI?
General Fraud and Other Criminal Matters
Contact the FBI at (202) 324-3000, or online at www.fbi.gov or tips.fbi.gov. Contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, or online at www.oig.hhs.gov.
What is synthetic identity theft?
A synthetic identity is a combination of fabricated credentials where the implied identity is not associated with a real person. Fraudsters may create synthetic identities using potentially valid social security numbers (SSNs) with accompanying false personally identifiable information (PII).
What are the five most common types of identity theft?
Here are five common types of identity theft to help you stay one step ahead of hackers.
- Financial identity theft.
- Medical identity theft.
- Criminal identity theft.
- Synthetic identity theft.
- Child identity theft.
Who is most likely to be a victim of identity theft?
Seniors over 60 years old are the most common victims of identity theft. 3 in 10 victims of identity theft have experienced it more than once. 1 in 50 children is affected by child identity fraud, which costs U.S. families nearly $1 billion each year. Millennials account for 44% of U.S. identity fraud reports.
What was the average amount of time it takes to resolve an identity theft complaint?
On average, victims reported that they spent 30 hours resolving their problems. On average, victims of the “New Accounts and Other Frauds” form of ID Theft spent 60 hours resolving their problems.
How can I find out if someone is using my identity?
at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or go to: www.identitytheft.gov/ To order a copy of your Social Security Administration earnings and benefits statement, or to check whether someone has used your Social Security number to get a job or to avoid paying taxes, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/.
What should I do if my identity has been compromised?
Call or email the fraud department of the companies, banks or credit unions where accounts have been compromised. Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account.
What government agency should you contact if your identity is stolen?
Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.
What do you do if someone has your information?
If the stolen information includes your Social Security number, call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
What happens if personal data is leaked?
Data leaks can reveal everything from social security numbers to banking information. Once a criminal has these details, they can engage in all types of fraud under your name. Theft of your identity can ruin your credit, pin you with legal issues, and it is difficult to fight back against.
What action do you need to take if you suspect your personal information has been compromised?
Freeze your credit
Another step you can take, whether you’re affected by a data breach or not, is to freeze your credit. You can do this by contacting each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and asking to freeze your credit.