Controlling the damage caused by identify theft
Identity theft can wreak havoc on your personal finances, but there are ways that you can take control of the situation.
If an identity thief has stolen your mail to get new credit cards or information about your bank account, or if he or she falsifies change-of-address forms sent through the mail, this is considered a crime and should be reported to your local postal inspector.
If you believe that your bank account has been tampered with, you should close it immediately. When you open a new account, request that a password be used before any changes can be made on the account. Try to avoid using typical password information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date or the same series of consecutive numbers.
Similar action should be taken for an ATM card. If it has been stolen, cancel it as soon as possible and get another card with a new PIN number.
Identify theft can also involve your phone service, your driver's license and your personal investments. Recently in Chicago, the public was warned to be on the lookout for a Social Security identify theft scam where potential victims were contacted for private information such as Social Security and bank account numbers.
Sometimes, an identity thief may create a criminal record under your name, when being arrested, for example. The procedures for clearing your name varies by jurisdiction, so if this should happen, you may need to hire an attorney to help resolve the problem.
Note: This information was prepared as a public service by the Illinois State Bar Association and is a joint project with the Illinois Press Association. Its purpose is to inform citizens of their legal rights and obligations.
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If you have questions about the application of the law in a particular case, consult your lawyer. The law is constantly changing. Information on this site or any site to which we link does not constitute legal advice.