Free Buyer GuidesCalifornia Identity Theft Attorneys
ID Theft FAQs
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft is a crime that occurs when a person steals your personal information, such as your Social Security number, name, credit card number(s), or driver's license number to commit fraud as well as other crimes. Identity theft is usually considered a white collar crime.
How Often Does Identity Theft Occur in California?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is the federal agency tasked with monitoring and enforcing laws concerning ID theft, provides identity theft statistics through yearly Identity Theft Clearinghouse reports. According to the 2009 report, there were 42,209 complaints of identity theft in California that year, the highest in the entire country. The majority of these cases involved credit card fraud, specifically opening new accounts.
How Do Thieves Steal an Identity?
Identity thieves use a number of methods to steal someone's personal information, including:
- Rifling through trash;
- Skimming credit card account numbers;
- Phishing online;
- Changing billing statement addresses;
- Stealing, the old-fashioned way; and
- Pretexting, or conning.
What are Stolen Identities Used For?
Thieves steal identities for a number of different reasons. The most common is to commit credit card fraud. A thief may open new credit card accounts or use existing accounts to make purchases. If the thief diverts your billing statements by changing your address, he or she could accumulate a great many fraudulent charges. Other ways a thief may use a stolen identity include:
- Utilities or phone fraud;
- Bank fraud;
- Government documents fraud; and
- Medical fraud.
Is it Necessary to File a Police Report if Your Identity is Stolen?
Yes, filing a police report is necessary to resolve an identity theft problem. The police report usually includes details of the theft, which then allows the report to serve as your Identity Theft Report. The ID Theft Report entitles you to certain rights when it is submitted to the three major credit bureaus and provides evidence of the theft.
How Long Does it Take to Resolve the Effects of Identity Theft?
There is no set amount of time dictating how long the effects of identity theft may last. It depends on a number of factors, including whether or not your information was passed on to someone else, if the thief was caught, and if there are complications related to your credit report. ID theft victims should monitor all account activity for the next several months after the theft and then, at least yearly, review their credit reports.
How Can an Attorney Help?
In some cases of identity theft, a victim is repeatedly contacted by creditors or debt collectors who are uncooperative and continue to attempt to collect debts using unfair and deceptive practices. Howard D. Silver is dedicated to protecting California consumers against such actions and can ensure that creditors and debt collectors who conduct themselves in an unlawful manner will be held accountable for their actions in civil court, as provided in the California Identity Theft Law. Call Mr. Silver today to learn more about your legal rights at (866) 495-3666.
