The Identity Theft “Trap”: Why You Need a Lawyer
Most victims start by filing a report with IdentityTheft.gov or the police. While these are important steps, they often aren’t enough.
Credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion frequently ignore disputes or “verify” fraudulent accounts as accurate. When this happens, your credit score stays low, and you may be denied for mortgages or car loans. That is where we come in. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), if a bureau fails to correct a known error after a proper dispute, you may be entitled to damages.
How Identity Theft Impacts You
Identity theft isn’t just about a stolen credit card number; it can manifest in several damaging ways:
1. Fraudulent New Accounts
Criminals use your Social Security number to open new credit cards, personal loans, or utility accounts. These accounts go unpaid, and the delinquencies are reported under your name.
2. Debt Collection Abuse
You may start receiving calls from debt buyers (like Midland Credit or Portfolio Recovery) for debts you never authorized. Even if you tell them it’s fraud, they may continue to report the debt or even sue you. We use the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to stop this harassment.
3. Tax and Employment Fraud
Someone may use your identity to file a fraudulent tax return to steal your refund or to gain employment, which can create massive headaches with the IRS and Social Security Administration.
4. Criminal Identity Theft
In some cases, a person may give your name and information to law enforcement during an arrest, resulting in a criminal record attached to your identity.
Our 3-Step Identity Theft Recovery Process
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Investigation & Documentation: We review your credit reports and help you gather the necessary affidavits and police reports to prove the theft occurred.
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Formal Legal Disputes: We draft and send specialized legal dispute letters to credit bureaus and creditors. These are designed to trigger your rights under federal law.
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Litigation (Suing the Bureaus): If the credit bureaus or the original creditors refuse to remove the fraudulent information, we file a lawsuit on your behalf. In many cases, the law requires the other side to pay your attorney’s fees.
Common “Mixed Files” and Errors
Sometimes, it isn’t a criminal stealing your info—it’s a credit bureau error. A “Mixed File” occurs when your credit information is merged with someone else’s (often a relative or someone with a similar name). This can be just as damaging as identity theft, and we handle these cases with the same aggressive legal approach.