What Should College Students Do if They’re Victims of Identity Theft?
College students who have their identities stolen face serious financial risks. Most computer hackers who steal someone’s identity do so for financial reasons. These cyber criminals can rack up thousands of dollars in fraudulent credit card charges in a matter of minutes.
So what should you do if you’re a college student and you’re a victim of identity theft? What are your options? What are your legal rights? Confused? Find the answers here these questions and many other frequently asked questions about identity theft among college students. For immediate help, contact a consumer attorney in Virginia.
- What should I do if I’m a victim of identity theft?
- What are different types of identity theft?
- What are common signs of identity theft?
- What laws exist to protect college students from identity theft?
- What rights are included under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)?
- Will I be responsible for paying fraudulent charges due to identity theft?
- Can identity theft affect my credit rating?
- Should I hire an identity theft lawyer to handle my case?
What should I do if I’m a victim of identity theft?
o Review your credit report
o Report your identity theft to the fraud department of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion, Experian
o Report your identity theft to the fraud department of your creditors
o Place a fraud block or credit freeze on your credit report
o Contact your bank
o Contact the police
o Contact an identity theft attorney
What are different types of identity theft?
Identity theft can take many different forms for many different reasons. Some of the most common types of identity theft that identity theft attorneys in Virginia and elsewhere in the country deal with include:
o Criminal identity theft
o New account fraud
o Medical identity theft
o Business of commercial identity theft
o Account takeover fraud
o Identity cloning
What are common signs of identity theft?
There are many different warning signs of identity theft. Some of the most common warning signs include:
o You receive notification about an account you don’t recognize
o You receive statements and bills in the mail for accounts you did not establish
o You receive late notices and collection notices for charges you did not make
o You receive financial students and offers with someone else’s name
o A new name or alias is added to existing credit card statements or credit reports
o Credit card companies you didn’t apply to have looked at your credit report
What laws exist to protect college students from identity theft?
Many state and federal laws exist to protect college students from identity theft. Identity theft victims throughout the United States are protected by the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal statute that allows consumers to inspect their credit reports and dispute any inaccuracies in their reports.
What rights are included under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)?
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, college students and anyone else that’s a victim of identity theft has the right to:
o Know what information is in their credit report file
o Ask for their credit score
o Obtain a free copy of their credit report
o Dispute inaccurate information in their credit report file
o Seek damages from violators
o Place a 90-day initial fraud alert on their credit report
o Have fraudulent information blocked from their credit report
Will I be responsible for paying fraudulent charges due to identity theft?
No. You can challenge such fraudulent charges and insist that someone stole you’re identity and you’re not responsible for them. If you have any trouble correcting such mistakes, contact an identity theft attorney immediately and demand justice.
Can identity theft affect my credit rating?
Yes. That’s why it’s critical your contact the three major credit reporting agencies immediately, contact your credit card companies and contact the police. Correcting your credit rating can sometimes be a challenge. That’s why we strongly urge people to contact an identity theft lawyer as soon as possible. They can set the record straight.
Should I hire an identity theft lawyer to handle my case?
Yes. An experienced identity theft attorney can help you:
o Correct your credit rating
o Avoid having to pay fraudulent charges
o Take legal action against the person responsible for stealing your identity
o Deal directly with credit card companies and credit reporting agencies
o Demand debt collectors stop harassing you for fraudulent charges
o Take any other legal action if necessary
You have rights. An aggressive identity theft lawyer can fight for them