Do Police Investigate Identity Theft?

Do Police Investigate Identity Theft?

Police departments can do very little to investigate and prosecute identity theft. … You can use the Identity Theft Report to help get false information taken off your credit reports, stop a company from collecting debts and place an extended fraud alert on your credit reports.

Can identity theft ruin your life?

If you have been a victim of identity theft, then you can understand how this crime can seriously ruin your life. … The consequences of identity theft are very real and are very distressing. It doesn't matter for what purposes your identity has been stolen, serious damage can be caused.

Who is responsible for identity theft?

You have limited liability for fraudulent debts caused by identity theft. Under most state laws, you're not responsible for any debt incurred on fraudulent new accounts opened in your name without your permission. Under federal law, the amount you have to pay for unauthorized use of your credit card is limited to $50.

Can I sue someone for stealing my identity?

Yes, you could sue the person who stole your identity. You will need to prove damages. You probably do not have a case against an employer which employed the thief.

How do you recover from identity theft?

at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338) or go to: www.identitytheft.gov/ To order a copy of your Social Security Administration earnings and benefits statement, or to check whether someone has used your Social Security number to get a job or to avoid paying taxes, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/.

Do identity thieves get caught?

In a study done in 2006, “only 1 in 700 identity theft suspects were arrested by federal authorities (0.14%).” … Another alarming number is 85, as in 85% of identity theft victims don't realize for up to a year if not longer.

What happens when you file a police report for identity theft?

In most cases, you can use your Identity Theft Report in place of a police report to clear your account and credit records of transactions that resulted from the identity theft. That's because when you use IdentityTheft.gov, you're reporting the crime to the Federal Trade Commission, a federal law enforcement agency.

What to do when your SSN is stolen?

Report the theft of the Social Security number to the IRS at http://www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection. You can also call 1-800-908-4490. That will prevent tax-fraud thieves from filing tax returns in your name — and collecting your tax refund.