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Identity Theft

What to do if someone steals your ID

Identity Theft: Legal Help

A Publication of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

21. Legal help.

You may want to consult an attorney to determine legal action to take against creditors, credit bureaus, and/or debt collectors if they are not cooperative in removing fraudulent entries from your credit report or if negligence is a factor.

Call the local Bar Association (www.abanet.org/premartindale.html), a Legal Aid office in your area (for low-income households), or the National Association of Consumer Advocates (www.naca.net) to find an attorney who specializes in consumer law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Fair Credit Billing Act.

• 1. Notify credit bureaus
• 2. Law Enforcement
• 3. Federal Trade Commission
• 4. Fraudulent Accounts
• 5. Creditors and Existing Accounts
• 6. Debt Collectors
• 7. Checking and Bank Fraud
• 8. ATM Cards
• 9. Brokerage Accounts
• 10. Mail Fraud
• 11. Secret Service
• 12. Social Security Misuse
• 13. Passports
• 14. Phone Service
• 15. Student Loans
• 16. Driver's License Misuse
• 17. ID Theft By People Known to You
• 18. Medical Identity Theft
• 19. Victim Statements
• 20. False Judgments
• 21. Legal Help
• 22. Keep Good Records
• 23. Other useful information
• 27. Resources