The internet is a great place, filled with information accessible at the touch of a button and the ability to communicate with friends and family around the globe. However, the emergency of technology also means it’s easier for vulnerable people to be susceptible to getting their identity compromised. As such, it’s essential to understand the impact of identity theft to ensure you can protect yourself online. If your identity is compromised, keep reading to learn what can happen and how a Los Angeles, identity theft lawyer can help you through this challenging time.
What Should I Know About the Impact of Identity Theft?
When you’re the victim of identity theft, the most common area of your life that is impacted is your finances. Unfortunately, when someone has access to sensitive information, including your full name, address, birthday, cellphone number, and social security number, they can use it to open accounts in your name, receive loans, and make purchases. As such, these debts can accrue, affecting your identity score in the process. This is because they are not paying the debts, thus impacting your credit score.
Not only can identity theft impact your credit score, but this, in turn, will affect the rest of your life. A credit score will impact whether you can take out a loan, where your children can go to college, and your retirement.
Unfortunately, the impact of identity theft on many people has a significant impact on the mental health of victims. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Because your credit score significantly impacts your life, if your identity is stolen it can cause a number of mental health issues. As such, it’s vital to do what you can to minimize the stress surrounding the circumstances.
What Can I Do if I’ve Had My Identity Stolen?
If your identity is stolen, you may not know what to do. However, it’s vital to do what you can to remain calm. Though this may seem challenging given the circumstances, panicking will only make matters worse.
The first thing you must do is contact the credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your account. This makes it so that any time someone tries to open a new account, the creditor must call you to confirm your identity before proceeding.
Next, you’ll want to contact an identity theft lawyer. It’s important to understand that, unfortunately, many identity thieves are never caught. However, if your identity was compromised during a data breach because a company failed to secure your information. As such, you may be entitled to compensation.
At LA Legal Solutions, our dedicated legal team will work tirelessly to help you get the compensation you are entitled to. We can also help you through the process of preparing your identity to answer any questions you may have about your credit. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for you.
