We live in a time where identity theft here in the United States is all but uncommon. Unfortunately, in some cases, it can even occur right at home, in between spouses or domestic partners. If you believe that your spouse or partner recently committed an act of domestic identity theft by spending funds without your permission, especially for significant purchases, you may have legal recourse available. Read on and contact a California domestic identity theft lawyer from Los Angeles Legal Solutions today to learn more about how our firm can assist you.
Domestic Identity Theft Lawyer | Representing Identity Theft Victims in California
Many people have to face the unfortunate reality that their spouse is, essentially, stealing from them. This can happen in a variety of ways, but it most commonly appears in the form of using their spouse’s credit card, or otherwise using their spouse’s financial assets to make unauthorized purchases. In some cases, people won’t even realize their spouses have been squandering these assets until they decide to get divorced. If this has happened to you, you can turn to a knowledgeable California consumer lawyer from our legal team.
Warning Signs of Domestic Identity Theft
Though no one wants to be suspicious of their spouse/domestic partner and have to watch what they’re doing to make sure they’re not stealing from them, the truth is, there are several warning signs to look out for. They are as follows:
- Hiding assets, such as cash, or hiding unpaid bills
- Stealing a partner’s Social Security number
- Opening a credit card account in a partner’s name and maxing it out
- Making costly unauthorized financial transactions, such as purchasing a new vehicle
- Using a partner’s personal information against them
You should note that when one spouse commits an act of domestic identity theft, courts may even consider it to be domestic financial abuse, which is illegal.
How We Can Help You
If you’re a victim of domestic identity theft, the first thing you should do (if the theft involves a credit account) is report the theft to your credit agency and file a dispute. You should also get in touch with the three primary credit reporting agencies and inform them of the fraud. From here, if the reporting bureaus don’t accept your claim of fraud or otherwise fail to remedy the issue, you should speak with a domestic identity theft lawyer from our firm who can exercise your rights afforded under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
If your spouse or partner withdrew funds using your debit card without your permission, you can report it to the bank issuer. It’s always best to do so immediately, though you must do so within two days of it occurring. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act will then require your bank to investigate the withdrawal, and as long as they determine fraud occurred, they should restore the funds to your account.
Contact a Domestic Identity Theft Lawyer from Los Angeles Legal Solutions
The bottom line is that if you’re a victim of domestic identity theft, you need a legal team you can depend on. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Contact Los Angeles Legal Solutions today to schedule your initial consultation with our competent legal team at once.
