Identity Theft Overview
Essentially, identity theft is what happens when someone uses your personal information—such as your Social Security number—to open accounts, make purchases, or even get a tax refund. Identity theft can happen quickly, but it can be complicated to recover from. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a comprehensive resource for helping you report and recover from identity theft.
Warning Signs
There are a few key things to look out for that might indicate that someone is using your personal information for their own gain as part of an identity theft scheme. Some of these warning signs include:
- Receiving a notice from the IRS
- Discovering unfamiliar accounts on your credit report
- Noticing strange/unexpected withdrawals from your bank account
- Receiving bills that aren’t yours
- Getting calls about debts you do not owe
What to Do
If you believe that you may have been the victim of identity theft, it is important to take action as soon as possible.
- If you are aware of particular companies where the fraud occurred, call each of the companies to notify them of the issue
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports
- Get copies of your credit report
- Report the identity theft issue to the FTC
- Also, file a report with your local police department
These are all of the steps that must be done immediately. After these are done, take a step back and start to figure out how to fix the damage that’s been done—this may necessitate closing certain accounts or reporting fraudulent charges to your credit card company.
How to Protect Your Personal Information From Theft
In order to help protect yourself against identity theft in the first place, make sure you are consistently keeping track of your credit card and bank statements, shredding documents, protecting any documents with your Social Security number on them, and review your credit reports.
Identity Theft Litigation
Recently, a major data breach of the billing collector American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA) affected millions of LabCorp patients, exposing their private information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card information, bank account information, and more, according to USA Today. Those who were affected by the LabCorp data breach may find themselves exposed to the risk of identity theft, and may be able to participate in a class action lawsuit investigation.
Filing an Identity Theft Lawsuit
If you believe that your personal information was exposed, placing you at risk of identity theft—such as after the LabCorp data breach—you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit can offer some financial compensation, as well as hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Litigation can be overwhelming, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for litigation by connecting you with an experienced identity theft attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.
