Identity theft is an ever-increasing problem. So much so that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has created Tax Identity Awareness Week and runs from January 29th - February 2nd. The intention of this week is to bring the identity theft problem more coverage, especially during tax season. Tax season is a popular time in which to steal an identity because of the tax refund checks. However, stealing a social security number to receive a tax refund is simply one of the ways and reasons identities are stolen in the first place.
As our identities become more accessible to thieves with new technology that gathers too much information, we need to remain vigilant. However, this only helps before an identity is compromised. What happens when your identity has already been stolen?
Private Investigators work closely with Attorney Law Firms to track down the identity thief and assist in getting your affairs back in order. It is important to know that there are five different types of identity theft:
Criminal - This type of identity theft is used when criminals try to avoid charges.
Financial - The most common of identity thefts. It is used to gain access to funds.
Medical - This type of identity theft is when someone uses the health benefits of the person from whom the identity was stolen.
Cloning - This is when a person assumes the identity of the victim to conceal their own.
Child - This happens when someone uses the identity of a child for personal gain.
Before turning to a Private Investigator, the following steps must be taken:
- Make Reports
In order to make reports, you must file complaints with every agency where you believe the identity theft has occurred. Such places include the bank, credit card companies, and other similar establishments.
- Report the Crime to the FTC
The FTC provides a checklist in order to help you get started: Find the Checklist Here.
- Make a Police Report
This is a straightforward step.
Once the above is completed, enough information will be gathered with which to present to an Attorney Law Firm. From there, the Attorney Law Firm may call us, the Private Investigators.
Private Investigators are able to give personalized attention to each identity theft case. While we can work towards finding the identity thief, the Identity Theft Resource Center has reported that most cases do not end in arrest, in no part due to lack of efforts by assisting agencies.
Once the case has been solved, it is important to take proper precautions to preserve sensitive identifying information going forward.
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication at the time it was written. It is not intended to provide legal advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome. Individual situations will differ and the law may have changed since publication. Readers considering legal action should consult with an attorney to understand current laws and how they may affect a case.