Unfortunately, when you’re the victim of identity theft, you may be left with little to no resources on what to do to reduce the effect it can have on your life. Many resources revolve around minimizing the risk of theft, but knowing what to do when you’re a victim is critical. If this reflects your circumstances, you’ll want to keep reading. The following blog explores what you can do to minimize the impact of identity theft and why working with a Los Angeles, California identity theft lawyer is critical to reclaiming your identity. You’ll also learn the steps you can take to help prevent this from happening in the future.
What Can I Do to Minimize the Impact of Identity Theft?
If you are looking to minimize the impact identity theft can have on your life, one of the first things you should do is immediately contact your bank. You should inform them that you believe you are the victim of identity theft and immediately change your credentials. This can help ensure you can protect your funds from being drained by the thief. If any fraudulent charges have impacted your bank account, you can also initiate the dispute process with your bank.
Next, you should file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Having an official FTC report can assist when filing disputes with creditors, which is your next course of action. Because you want to ensure you aren’t held liable for accounts you did not open, contacting all creditors as soon as possible and filing disputes is critical. You can attach the FTC report for supplemental documentation of the theft.
Once you have filed reports with all companies involved, you should contact the credit reporting agencies through a letter sent via certified mail to them of the theft and place a fraud alert on your account. This informs all creditors that you are a victim of identity theft, so they must verify your identity before opening any new accounts in your name.
How Can I Protect Myself from Future Theft?
If you are a victim of identity theft, preventing it from happening again is critical, as it can result in additional legal and financial errors. One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is turn on two-factor authentication for your accounts. This can help prevent unauthorized users from accessing your accounts by requiring login information and a code sent to the phone or email of the account holder. As such, you’ll know immediately if someone is trying to access your accounts.
Additionally, you can begin monitoring your credit by checking your report every four months. The reporting agencies provide one free credit report per year, meaning you are entitled to three free reports. As such, you’ll find that this allows you the opportunity to monitor your credit closely to look for any issues that could arise.
Unfortunately, recovering from identity theft can be incredibly difficult, which is why it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney who can assist you during these complicated matters. When you need help, the team at Los Angeles Legal Solutions is here to help. If you are a victim of identity theft, contact us today to learn how our team can assist you in reclaiming your identity.
