Identity Theft

Identity theft is when someone uses your personally identifying information (e.g., name, Social Security number, credit card number) without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing, or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. Identity theft is a serious issue. Each year, millions of Americans have their identity stolen. The first step is to deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information. To find out if any identity theft has occurred, monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. In some cases, if you've been the victim of identity theft, you'll need to hire an identity theft lawyer who can help you fight to clear your good name and good credit.