Consumer Lawyer

Criminal identity theft happens when someone gives police your name, date of birth or other identifying details during a stop, citation or arrest. The police report, warrant, court case or criminal history that results can then be wrongly linked to you. Start with the law enforcement agency that handled the incident: report the impersonation, ask…

If money is missing from your bank account, call your bank’s fraud department now, using the number on your card or statement. Ask it to secure the account, open a written error-resolution case, and give you a case number. Then file a report at IdentityTheft.gov. Many unauthorized electronic transfers from consumer accounts are protected by…

Deceased identity theft, sometimes called “ghosting,” happens when someone uses a dead person’s personal information, such as a Social Security number (SSN), date of birth or old address, to open credit accounts, take loans, file tax returns, get benefits or reach financial accounts. Criminals see it as low risk because nobody is checking the person’s…

Child identity theft happens when someone uses a minor’s personal information without permission to get credit, benefits, medical care, a job, or a tax refund. A child’s Social Security number (SSN) is attractive because children usually have no credit history, and no one is watching for activity, so misuse can go unnoticed for years. Many…

Someone may be using your Social Security number to work without your knowledge. You might find out when you receive a W-2 from an employer you never worked for, see unfamiliar wages on your Social Security earnings record, or get an IRS notice about income you never earned. This is employment identity theft: using another…