Frequently Asked Questions About Identity Theft And Scams

At SmithMarco, P.C., we think victims should understand their legal rights and learn what they can do after a personal account has been hacked. Allowing thieves to use your information can have devastating effects on your life. Reaching out to an identity theft lawyer could help you recover what was taken from you.

A hacked bank account could mean losing your hard-earned savings and suffering from debt. A consumer rights lawyer can inform you of your consumer protection laws so that you understand how to fight back against thieves.

One of the most common ways people lose their personal information is by losing a wallet or purse. This can lead to a lost credit card, license or Social Security number. Yet, in today’s digital lifestyle, more people are becoming victims of identity theft through their phones and laptops. Thieves may steal information through websites, social media and malware. Companies may even be at fault for stolen personal information if they were targeted in a data breach.

Thieves can use your personal information to make purchases, take out loans and open bank accounts. The goal for many thieves is to steal someone’s personal information and get away with as much money as they can. This may mean running up debt in the victim’s name or selling the victim’s personal information to others. These actions can ruin your credit report, lead to fraud charges and cause years of financial distress.

It’s important to contact the credit bureaus so that they can make a fraud alert. You may also need to make a report to law enforcement that your identity has been stolen. An attorney at SmithMarco, P.C., can work with you so that you know what to do next.

After you make a report of a fraudulent transaction, there is often a paper trail or digital footprint to prove that you are a victim. This may include any transactions the thief made under your name, receipts, bank statements, fraud reports and communications with the thief.

The credit bureaus can freeze your account once a fraud report is made. This freeze can prevent accounts from being opened under your name or credit card limits from increasing. If your information is stolen, but the thief has not used it yet, a credit freeze may be the best way to combat any consequences.

A credit freeze restricts who can access a credit report, which can also prevent consumer reporting agencies from accessing your information. A credit freeze can last as long as you want. You can talk to a consumer rights lawyer at SmithMarco, P.C., to learn when it’s safe to take down a credit freeze.