Are You the Victim of Fraud or Identity Theft?

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An account takeover is a form of identity theft that occurs when an identity thief gains control over an account that you legitimately own. This can include credit cards, lines of credit, or utility accounts that can appear on your credit even though the account activity is fraudulent.

Application fraud occurs when someone submits false information to obtain a new consumer credit account in your name. An identity thief may use your personal information as well as providing fake income, an incorrect address to secure loans, credit cards, or lines of credit.

Synthetic identity fraud happens when criminals combine real personal information (such as a Social Security number) with fake details, such as names and addresses. to create a new identity to apply for new consumer credit accounts. This type of fraud often goes unnoticed for years and can cause significant credit damage by the time it’s discovered.

Some fraud schemes involve the misuse of your identity for employment, unemployment benefits, or government programs.  These schemes can trigger collection accounts, alleged overpayments, or tax-related credit issues.

Credit bureaus sometimes combine information from multiple consumers into a single credit file—a problem known as a “mixed file.”  This can result in accounts, late payments, or public records appearing on your report that belong to someone else.

Unfortunately, fraud sometimes involves people close to the victim, such as spouses, partners, caregivers, or relatives. While emotionally difficult, consumers still have legal rights when their credit is misused by someone they trusted.

A digital signature acts as a unique electronic identifier used to sign documents securely. However, if someone gains access to your signature through malware or other means they can use it to commit fraud quickly and on a wide scale. Digital signatures are a convenient part of modern life, but they aren’t immune to fraud. When a digital signature is stolen, it can be used without your consent to make purchases, sign contracts, or even transfer property often before you realize what’s happening. 

If creditors, credit bureaus, or debt collectors refuse to correct fraudulent accounts after proper notice, you may be entitled to compensation, not just correction. A consumer credit attorney understands the laws designed to protect you and knows how to enforce them.

If you are the victim of any of these schemes or others, we can help by:

• Discreet legal guidance tailored to sensitive situations
• Protection of your credit without unnecessary confrontation
• Assistance disputing unauthorized account charges
• Disputing fraudulent accounts with credit bureaus and lenders
• Stopping collection efforts on identity theft–related debt
• Removing fraudulent and inaccurate accounts from your credit history
• Forcing correction of mixed credit files
• Enforce your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
• Seek damages when companies fail to properly investigate or correct errors

You do not have to prove fraud alone, and you should not have to live with damaged credit because of it.

Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation and learn how we can help.